With a time crunch on Canada 150 grant usage, the city is springing into action with a fitness centre expansion at the Trail Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
After receiving word that Trail received $162,500 through the Western Economic Diversification (Canada 150) grant program in December, the city prioritized tendering of the job. As outlined in the funding agreement between the program and Trail, the timeline stipulated the contract would be awarded in April and the project substantially completed and open to the public by early fall.
Council approved the $335,000 job (10 per cent contingency) pre-2017 budget by endorsing the agreement during the December 19 governance meeting.
“It’s really driven by the fact that we were successful in the city’s application through … the Canada 150 grant program,” Trail Mayor Mike Martin told the Trail Times. “This was well contemplated by council with a move forward through the program to see if we would be successful in achieving that level of funding and we were. So we are now in the process of proceeding with that project.”
Martin says 1,000 square-feet of space will be added to the north end of the fitness centre (towards the tennis courts).
“Right now the fitness centre is overcrowded,” he said. “Individuals need space for their floor exercises and their stretching, so this will be an integrated room that will allow for better utilization of space given the demand that is there, ” Martin added. “Quite often we’ve seen individuals out in the hallway because the fitness centre is so full.”
Of the three bids put forth, city staff recommended council to award the contract to the lowest tender, Corvus Construction, in the amount of $283,400.
“Typical commercial construction costs can run anywhere between $200 to $300 per square foot depending on the nature of the build,” said Chief Administrative Officer David Perehudoff. “So the pricing falls in line and is consistent with the budget that was originally developed.”
The goal of the Canada 150 Fund, which closed in October, was to “create opportunities for Canadians to participate in local, regional, and national celebrations that contribute to building a sense of pride and attachment to Canada.”
The program provides 50 per cent of costs up to a maximum of $500,000 for approved projects.
Last May, Trail council agreed for the city’s parks department to proceed with two applications under the “Canada 150 Celebrates” Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program.
In fact, the fitness centre was second on the list. Council’s top priority was the Trail Memorial Centre Roof Project, with an associated financial commitment up to $490,000 for the city.
“There were two projects within parks and recreation that were put forward for consideration under this granting program,” Martin said. “The other was for replacement of the roof on the TMC – we weren’t successful on that one, but we will keep trying.”