Duane Hicks
While the shovel is expected to break ground on the new multi-use/tennis court facility here later this month, the project committee is looking at ways to reduce the cost.
The tender for the new tennis courts was awarded to Court Surface Specialists with an “all-in” cost of $481,334.98.
But the committee’s revenue currently sits at $423,340.92—leaving it with a projected shortfall of $57,994.06.
With the town already having committed $112,000 to the project, council approved a recommendation at its meeting Monday night to deny further funds to cover the projected shortfall as requested by the committee last month.
It also was recommended that the committee explore all options to reduce the overall project costs, to defer lighting or a portion of the lighting to another year, and to continue fundraising to reduce the shortfall.
Coun. Ken Perry made it clear that as long as he is on council, he won’t agree to contributing more dollars than what the town already has pledged.
“I’m still not in favour of giving them any more money—going forward—for this project,” he remarked.
“It should be stressed upon them that they find the money through fundraising,” added Coun. Perry, with whom Coun. Doug Kitowski agreed.
Committee chair Rick Wiedenhoeft told the Times the committee is looking at ways to trim costs, but also
explained the $57,994 shortfall isn’t quite as severe as it seems.
“The town is providing us with, I would estimate, between $15,000 and $20,000 worth of ‘A’ and ‘B’ gravel, so that’s going to offset that cost there,” he explained.
“The Fort Frances Power Corp. has also volunteered to help offset some of the electrical costs with Mark Caron Electric, so that’s going to offset the $58,000, as well,” Wiedenhoeft added.
He noted the committee also is negotiating with M.L. Caron Electric to see if it can wire the courts for lighting this year, but wait until next year to purchase and install the lighting after the committee raises more money to pay for them.
The other alternative is to install lighting at two of the four courts rather than all four of them.
The remaining two could be lit in the future—if needed.
“We’ve never had lit courts before in the past so this would be something new,” said Wiedenhoeft.
“Maybe we need only two lit courts—who knows?”
With all of these considerations in mind, Wiedenhoeft feels the committee “will be okay,” adding that he personally doesn’t want to have to go back to asking the community for more funds.
Wiedenhoeft expects Court Surface Specialists to start constructing four new tennis courts along the fenceline of the St. Francis Sportsfield, on the north side of Fort High, later this month.
The contractor has said it will have the project completed by Sept. 1—just in time for the new school year.
