The Regional District Board of Directors praised the volunteer spirit of Tulameen residents at the June 20 regional district board meeting.
The praise came on the heels of a directors motion instituted by Princeton Rural Director Brad Hope.
Hope asked the board to award a building project to Romard Developments Inc. in the amount of $297,423.96 to build a roof structure over the Tulameen ice surface.
The community has been working towards getting their ice surface covered since 2011, requesting the RDOS board to approve a grant application to the province’s Community Recreation Infrastructure Grant Program in December of that year.
The ice surface covering project is known in the community as “Raise the Roof.” The RDOS was successful in their application and a $240,000 grant was obtained, along with $70,000 in community funding for the project.
Eight proposals were submitted in a Request For Proposal issued in April of this year, ranging in price between $564,000 and $955,000.
All the proposals were too costly for Tulameen’s budget. However, a number of locals put their heads together and came up with a bid pricing labour, materials and equipment at cost. Their submitted bid could achieve the goal within the approximate $300,000 amount of funds available. The value of in-kind efforts is estimated at $90,000, bringing the total value of the project to $400,000.
The regional district board was generally supportive of Hope’s request, praising Tulameen for their initiative in collaborating and working together to cut costs and make the project affordable for the community. Concerns raised were centred on the lack of a performance bond. Hope assured the board that the Raise the Roof group were already funded, and on budget or ahead of budget at this time. The board was also assured by Chief Adminstrative Officer Bill Newell that the community was the enitity accepting the risks involved.
A timely approval from the board was of essence because the structural steel required a 12 week notice prior to on site delivery, if construction was to be complete before winter.
The board approved the recommended motion - to award the Tulameen Ice Roof Structure project to Romard Developments Inc. in the amount of $297,423.96 inclusive of PST.