By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Although it had already approved funding for a skateboard park in the town budget it had approved a week earlier, on July 19 Yarmouth Town Council held a special council meeting to award a tender for the project.
Council accepted the lowest of four tenders for the site and preparation work that needs to take place prior to ramps and rails being installed on the site of the new skateboard park, which will be located on land adjacent to the South End Supervised Playground.
The tender accepted was in the amount of $247,914 (exclusive of HST) that was submitted by Graham Construction Ltd. While two other tenders had come in at $255,840.13 and $282,102.89, the highest of the four tenders was $360,000.
Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney said following the meeting that the Yarmouth company has indicated it can start its work anytime.
The tender approved by council last Thursday does not represent the entire cost of the project. The contract amount for the precast components from the Canadian Ramp Company is $172,050 plus HST, and the cost of engineering consulting services from ABL Environmental Consultants is $9,650 plus HST.
This brings the total project cost of the park to $429,614 plus HST.
It was stated at the council meeting that avenues are being explored for funding for the project that could decrease the amount of money the town has to pay. Of the money for the project that the town had already set aside for the park in its budget, $88,000 had come from other funding sources.
Talk in the community of building a skateboard park in the south part of town has been going on for nearly two decades.
