Flin Flon city council will spend more than double the purchase price to turn the Northern Bus Lines garage into a new public works shop, according to initial estimates.
In its proposed new budget, council sets aside $2.6 million for the garage, including the previously announced purchase price of $1.25 million and the new estimate of $1.35 million for renovations.
“That’s the way it was budgeted because that was the preliminary information we got, so we have to have a look at it and see if it’s valid,” said Mayor Cal Huntley, speaking at last week’s council meeting.
Asked whether council had an estimate for upgrading the current public works shop rather than purchasing the bus garage, Huntley said he thought it was assumed the latter option would be the better deal.
“We’re reviewing the report [on steps needed to renovate the bus garage] right now, and that’s pretty much where we’ll leave it,” said Huntley.
Earlier this year, the city sought a consultant to conduct a preliminary design study to outline the work required at the garage.
Goals
The city’s request for proposals (RFP) detailed three primary goals for the study:
• Evaluate current operational requirements and how they would fit into the new facility.
• Determine the capital cost of renovating the new facility to required standards while providing an appropriate level of functionality for current and future operations of the city’s works and operations department.
• Outline phasing and schedule for the transfer from the old facility to the new one, including detailed design, construction, changeover/move and demolition.
The study was to also offer conceptual plans of the final renovated buildings to assist the city in determining the overall project scope as well as cost differences in levels of amenities.
Responses to the RFP were due in January. The deadline for submitting the final report to the city was April 30.
The city’s current public works shop, near Channing, is said to be in dire condition.
Last year, Coun. Colleen McKee said the facility “is falling apart” with a lifespan of maybe five years.
The city plans to purchase the current Northern Bus Lines garage on Golf Road, but the deal has not been finalized.
Northern Bus Lines currently provides public transit for the city, but the municipality plans to take over that service sometime this year.
