Battleford balances large purchases with construction savings

One of those purchases was a new set of bleachers for the ball diamonds at the flats, an improvement the town had heard repeated requests for from people who use the facilities. The town also moved ahead with the purchase of a new street sweeper, with the timing of the deal allowing Battleford to secure the equipment at a lower price than it expects to face in the future.

While some purchases cost more than initially anticipated, savings on construction projects have helped keep the town’s overall spending in check.

One example is the 22nd Street sidewalk replacement, where the final cost was substantially lower than both the original budget and the amount awarded through the tender process.

“Our original budgeted ask was $335,000; the tender was awarded for $217,600. Our actual billing and final price that we paid for that was $161,646.91,” said Aubrey Whittleton, manager of public works and utilities.

The final price represents a 51.75 per cent savings compared with the original budget and a 25.71 per cent reduction from the tendered price, leaving the town with additional room in its project spending.

Whittleton said a significant portion of those savings came from finding a way to reuse the concrete removed during the sidewalk work rather than paying to have it hauled away and disposed of. He said they will keep the concrete.

“Because we get that crushed and we can use that as road fill or other things within the town.”

The town is also continuing work on 3rd Avenue Crescent, one of its larger ongoing projects. The project is currently a few weeks behind its original schedule, although conditions have improved enough for crews to make progress toward catching up.

—

Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com

by Alyssa Rudolph

Battleford balances large purchases with construction savings

What's Trending