Cost to demolish old Cornwallis High? $170K

BY KIRK STARRATT

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com



Kings County council has awarded the contract for the demolition of the old Cornwallis District High School building in Canning.

A report from the Department of Engineering and Public Works on the tender submissions was presented at the Tuesday, Feb. 6 council session and councillors supported the staff recommendation of going with Kynock Resources of Hammonds Plains, at a total price of $169,226.16.

The demolition and disposal of the former high school was approved as part of the county’s 2006-2007 capital budget. Tenders were opened and read by department staff. One tender submission, from Bulldog Demolition, was not accepted because it was received after closing deadline of 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18.

Of the eight bids received, Kynock Resources had the lowest price. The highest received was from G.K. Morse Trucking of Centreville, who bid $665,760 on the demolition project.

Tendors were reviewed for mathematical checks and compliance by department staff. The bidders were checked also to ensure site visits were completed as required by the terms of the tender. Kynock Resources has experience with this type of work. The competition for the project was high, which usually favours the county in the form of lower prices.

Due to the age and condition of the school building, staff felt that the potential for resale of the 15-acre property would likely be greater once the school is demolished. The buildings and most of the roadway will be disposed of at approved sites consistent with provincial Department of Environment and Labour and Valley Waste Resource Management requirements.



Waste disposal?

Councillor Wayne Atwater asked what percentage of the material would be recycled. Engineering and Public Works director Richard Lloyd said he isn’t sure of the exact percentage, but the project will be managed closely and some material will be recycled through approved construction and demolition (C&D) waste sites.

Lloyd said best practices indicate that 40 to 50 per cent of material from a demolition project such as this should be recycled. The county would be in the 20-per-cent-plus range on this project. The contractor would determine where the C&D waste from the site would go, probably depending on where the contractor could get the best value.

Councillor Madonna Spinazola asked Lloyd if staff is concerned with the extreme variance in the pricing of the bids received. Lloyd said some contractors know how to bid accurately on a demolition project such as this but others may not know how to get the best value out of this sort of contract.

“It’s a difficult contract to bid on,” Lloyd said.

A small section of the north road will be left to allow access to the Kinsmen Football Field adjacent to the site. An inspector from the environment department will oversee work at the site to ensure regulatory compliance. Only approved material will be used to backfill the site. The site will be finished to acceptable standards by grading and hydroseeding and it’s expected the project will be completed by April 15.