The city of Williams Lake has awarded an $802,850 contract to replace the arena chiller at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
Only one bid tender by DevCon Industrial Service Ltd. was received.
“We had in the budget about $700,000 for the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex to replace one of our chillers,” Councillor Scott Nelson said at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
“We’ve pushed it to the end of its life period and we need to replace it. It will also result in some additional savings in terms of energy as this is one of the most efficient ones on the market. We’ll see a reduction of about 1,600 pounds of ammonia charge from 1,800 pounds down to about 200 pounds.”
The project will be accommodated within the City’s existing 5 year Capital plan budgeted amounts.
“The genesis for this goes back to the tragedy that happened in Fernie last year where a number of lives were lost and through our reaction in trying to make sure that doesn’t happen in our community,” Councillor Jason Ryll said.
“And as far as looking to the future, Councillor Nelson’s comments are absolutely correct. This is going to result in an overall reduction and demand on some of our infrastructure at the pool.”
The time window for the project according to the City’s Director of Community Services, Geoff Paynton is extremely narrow.
“There is a very long lead time for ordering the required equipment, and installation can only occur from May to mid-July as this is the only time the ice is out,” he said in a report to Council.
The project is fully funded by the CRD contribution to capital projects at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex which is approved by the CRD Board of Directors.
However, as per the agreement between the City of Williams Lake, the CMRC and the CRD, this project will go through the City’s Purchasing process.
Listen to CRD Manager of Community Services, Darron Campbell talk about how the CRD will contribute to this project in the audio file below:
(Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include the Cariboo Regional District)