Items on the agenda at the March 24 District of Sooke regular council meeting.
• The connector road between Church and Otter Point Roads went to tender through a procurement procedure and out of 10 bids, a Sooke company was awarded the contract.
The contract, for 500 metres of new road and multi-use trail, will cost the District of Sooke $1,791,642, as per the low bid from Sooke Backhoe Services. The highest bid was $2.659- million.
Project manager Nathan Dunlop said he recommends Sooke Backhoe Services be awarded the project.
“It is the number within your budget and other costs associated with the projects,” said Dunlop. The design, project coordination and clearing of the site have been done. The project costs include water mains, sanitary sewer and additional sidewalks. Also included is the related infrastructure to Townsend Road and Anna Marie Road.
Dunlop strongly recommended council establish a contingency to carry along with the bid as the bid is per unit price.
Dunlop said there was some environmental remedial work to be done on the adjacent car lot.
• The District of Sooke engineering department outlined its priority 2014 capital projects from the 2104 budget amount of $335,000. They include resurfacing and widening Grant Road in various locations, approximate cost $100,000; Approximately 100m of sidewalk on Townsend Road at $25,000; Blythwood Road mill and pave to be performed in 2016 at a cost of $115,000. The district will work with the CRDWS to coordinate surface construction with their anticipated water main upgrade in 2014; Highway 14 sidewalk between Church Road and the proposed roundabout with an approximate budget of $50,000 depending on final design.
• Councillor Maja Tait brought forward a motion at the meeting on March 10 to update council on the off-leash dog park and the horseshoe pitch proposal.
The off-leash dog park was proposed for the Ponds Park Corridor in 2013 but the project has been delayed at phase three due to the determination of a suitable design and related funding requirements. The proponents agreed to fund raise a portion of the estimated $14,000 construction costs. As of February 5, 2014 only $500 and some in-kind contributions of labour had been raised by the proponents. The district would have to supply the additional funds to complete, operate and maintain the park. If agreed the district would have to use funds from the Park Enhancement Budget. Staff will get back to council as to options.
The Sooke horseshoe club has been waiting for years for a piece of property on which to build their horseshoe pitches. Originally they were to be located at the Sooke River Road Park but that area was turned into parking spaces for the soccer fields.
Ron Dumont said the club would take care of all of the upkeep and maintenance. “Ideally Sooke River Road would have been the best,” he said.
Councillor Herb Haldane made a motion to not include Sooke River Road Park as a space for the horseshoe club at this time. The motion was carried.
