Duane Hicks
With only last-minute adjustments to make to the final drawings now, the Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre building committee is on track to put out a request for proposal (RFP) later this month to construct a new library here.
“We have received the drawings, the plans, and we, the building committee, met [Monday] and we are looking at them in preparation to go out for request for proposal,” library board chair Joyce Cunningham said yesterday.
“We want to have all of our reactions to the plans back to [architect] John Knox by the end of this week.
It’s just the little details that we’re looking at now—to make sure that some of the requests that we asked for are on the plans,” Cunningham added, referring to details like mill work designs, floor coverings, and the locations of electrical outlets.
Cunningham explained the RFP process is more or less like putting the job out for tender, and will garner bids as well determine if those who put in bids to do the job are qualified and could build such a project.
The most up-to-date budget for the revised library and technology centre project received by town council back in November showed a projected building cost of $3,941,871, with an extra $383,371 included both to cover an estimated 12 percent inflation in building and material costs due to delays, as well as re-design fees in the amount of $25,000.
This made for a total budget of $4,325,242.
“We’re hoping, of course, it comes in at our budgeted price,” Cunningham remarked. “And we’re feeling fairly optimistic about that right now.
“I am personally a little more optimistic in light of the time we are in and what’s happened economically right now, because we know that many firms are looking for work and also we know gas has gone down from a terrible high which was going to affect us greatly.
“In some ways, the unfortunate economic downturn may actually be a benefit to us,” she noted.
The building committee’s timeline to get out the RFP is mid-January, with Cunningham saying she felt Knox would have the finalized drawings done before then.
After the RFP comes back, there will be a period of time going through the proposals, and, ideally, a tender then will be awarded so that work can start this spring.
“It’s going to be a busy few months, but an exciting few months here, and hopefully we’ll see something happening,” Cunningham said, adding she also is waiting to hear back regarding grant applications which have been submitted to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. and FedNor.
In related news, the “Building for the Future” fundraising campaign total keeps on rising, with the total now surpassing $830,000.
Cunningham noted pledges continue to trickle in all the time, and gave special thanks to two local service clubs—the Voyageur Lions and Kiwanis—who are able to support the new library and technology centre through recent successful fundraisers like the “Polar Plunge” and “A Christmas Carol” reading, and the perennially sold-out “Trip of the Month” draw, respectively.
Those interested in making a contribution to the campaign can drop by the Fort Frances Public Library and fill out a donation form, or call the library at 274-9879.
