Just as this website asked several months ago, Where was the City going to find 20 million dollars for Sewer Upgrades? Now we know.

From The Portage Daily Graphic

Residents in Portage la Prairie will have to dole out a little more cash next year when they get their monthly water and sewer bill.

At its Monday night meeting, city council approved a six per cent rate increase for low- to mid-volume customers, and an eight per cent hike for high-volume commercial users, starting Jan. 1, 2009.

The increases to both the water and sewer rates will be used to maintain the services, while an additional five per cent increase applied to sewer rates will be put into a reserve to pay for the nutrient removal project.

“The Public Utilities Board awarded us these increases based on the need that we know is coming for nutrient management and removal,” explained Mayor Ken Brennan following the meeting. “We’re doing studies right now, and we’re building up our utility reserves to cover the costs that we know we’re going to have in regards to these nutrient management systems and studies that we are putting in place.”

The nutrient removal program, required by the province, is not optional for the city. It aims at reducing nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, fertilizers, cleaning chemicals and sewage in city water before it enters waterways that flow into Lake Winnipeg. Studies have shown an imbalance of nutrients leads to toxic algae blooms, which kill fish, wildlife and cattle.

The additional five per cent increase in sewer rates will mean additional charges of $16 per year in 2009 for a family consuming 15,000 gallons per quarter; an extra $840 for a mid-sized industry consuming 1,000,000 gallons per quarter and an additional $51,800 for a large industry.

Coun. Dave Quinn, co-chairman of the city’s waterworks committee, said the additional $328,120 that the five per cent increase will bring in to the nutrient removal reserve is important because the project is not expected to be cheap.

From the Portage Daily Graphic

The City of Portage la Prairie is one step closer to having all four tender packages for the Portage Credit Union Centre awarded.

Although 10 of the 16 tenders came in over budget, city councillors voted unanimously in favour of a resolution awarding portions of Tenders 3 and 4, at their regular meeting on Monday night.

The tenders, which include major components of the multiplex, including the pool, electrical and mechanical work, were accepted by council at just over $14.1 million — $734,573 over the budgeted cost, which was nearly $13.4 million.

After the meeting, Mayor Ken Brennan said he is not concerned by the overages because they fit into a nearly $1.2-million contingency built into the $35.7-million budget for the project.

“After awarding the portions of 3 and 4 that we did tonight, we’re still very confident that we’ll be able to bring the whole project in on that budget,” he explained.

The mayor said all of Tenders 3 and 4 weren’t voted on at the meeting because the project manager with Tower Engineering is still “massaging” the costs of the remaining tenders with contractors to get the best price.

“They talk to the contractors and make changes and consult with the RM and the city to make sure they are suitable,” said Brennan. “I think Tower and Stantec have done an excellent job for us getting this thing in on budget.”

To date, the total cost of tenders that have been approved by the city is just over $27.1 million, with nearly $7.5 million left to award.

Brennan said the prices on the remaining tenders are locked in until at least their next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 10.

“We’re not defaulting on any dates on any tenders by any means,” he explained.

Here is a breakdown of which tenders Portage la Prairie city council approved at its meeting on Monday, how much they cost and whether they came in over or under budget. In total, 16 tenders were awarded, totaling $14,126,148, which was $734,573 over the budgeted estimate of $13,391,575.
Misc. Metals – Tatra Ornamental Iron Works for $346,460, over budget by $111,134;
Hollow Metal Doors – Allmar International for $275,492, over budget by $53,614;
Folding Panel Partitions – Shanahan’s for $22,171, over budget by $277;
Doors and Windows – Allan’s Glass & Aluminum Pro for $667,000, under budget by $15,500;
Steel Studs, drywall and acoustic tiles – SSS Drywall for $375,000, under budget by $50,923;
Dasher Boards – Global Sports Resources for $128,946, under budget by $11,054;
Food Equipment – Russel Food Equipment Ltd. for $211,884, over budget by $11,601;
Mechanical – Ambassador Mechanical Ltd. for $4,258,000, over budget by $241,000;
Fire Protection – Viking Fire Protection for $310,600, over budget by $36,528;
Electrical – Wescan Electrical for $3,889,500, over budget by $139,500;
Asphalt Paving – Bituminex Paving Ltd. for $354,250, under budget by $30,072;
Chain Link Fencing – Wallace & Wallace for $7,390, under budget by $9,860;
Roof Hatches – Shanahan’s for $17,400, over budget by $14,554;
Visual Display Boards – Shanahan’s for $8,105, under budget by $1,426;
Refrigeration Systems – Cimco Refrigeration for $836,650, over budget by $243,850;
Pool – Hollandia for $2,417,300, over budget by $1,350.

Tenders 3 and 4 are on the agenda, we’ll update this post as information becomes available.

Vote is 5-3 in favor, Looks like Councillor Garth Asham is not worried about the judges opinion any more.

Note: If the portions of the final 2 tenders they are willing to release publically are that much over budget, imagine how high the rest of the tenders are they are “massaging”

From the Portage Daily Graphic

The City of Portage la Prairie is one step closer to having all four tender packages for the Portage Credit Union Centre awarded.

Although 10 of the sixteen tenders came in over budget, city councillors voted unanimously in favour of awarding portions of tenders three and four, at their regular meeting on Monday night.

The tenders, which include major components of the multiplex including the pool, electrical and mechanical work, were accepted by council at just over $14.1 — $734,573 over the budgeted cost which was nearly $13.4 million.

After the meeting, Mayor Ken Brennan said he is not concerned by the overages because they fit in to a nearly $1.2 million contingency built into the $35.7 million budget for the project.

“After awarding the portions of three and four that we did tonight, we’re still very confident that we’ll be able to bring the whole project in on that budget,” he explained.

The mayor said all of tenders three and four weren’t voted on at the meeting, because the project manager is still “massaging” the costs with contractors to get the best price.

To date the total cost of tenders that have been awarded is just over $27.1 million with almost $7.5 million left to award.

Council’s decision is conditional on whether the Rural Municipality of Portage passes the tenders as well, and the matter is expected to be on the agenda at their next meeting on Tuesday morning.

sgibson@cpheraldleader.com

Notes: It is interesting to note how Councillor Janet Schindle feels that this facility will “significantly add to the range of recreation opportunities “. With the elimination of the grandstand, race track, and competitive pool  most people think that the new facility will become a white elephant.

Councillor Jeff Bereza says that it is something to be proud of after waiting 40 years. How much fundraising has Mr Bereza or anyone else done in the last 40 yearts?  None ! So taxpayers are just expected to pay for the next 99 years.

From PortageOnline.com

Portage City Council has approved most of the final two tenders for the construction of the PCU Centre.

They’re worth $14,126,148.00, which is better $734,573.00 over budget.

It means the total spent or committed on the project is $27,136,000.00, with another $7,467,000.00 budgeted for contracts still to come.

That includes $1,127,000.00 for contingencies and change orders.

Mayor Ken Brennan is pleased with where the project stands. He thinks with the contingency funds available, they can bring the project in on budget.

Councillor Janet Shindle feels this will significantly add to the range of recreation opportunities in the region.

Councillor Jeff Bereza adds it’s something residents of the city and RM can be proud of, after 40 years of waiting.

The RM Council votes on the tenders this morning.

The truth has finally come out why Reeve Toby Trimble forced through the vote on Tenders 1 and 2 at the Council Meeting on September 23 2008.

There was great concern amongst taxpayers when Reeve Toby Trimble refused to give an answer to councillor Terry Simpson during the meeting when asked why they were voting on this agreement when they agreed as a council at the previous meeting that they would not vote until all 4 tenders were placed in front of them as a package.

It was presumed at that time by PortageMultiplex.com that the tenders had a time limit on them since they would have been received several months before .

A subsequent question asked of RM CAO Daryl Hrehirchuk the following day (and then waiting the usual 30 days for an answer ) yielded the expected result that Tender #1 that was received July 30th would have expired after 60 days . The RM council had to accept it or lose it.

Why wouldn’t Reeve Toby Trimble stand up and say that to the taxpayers and media?

Is it any wonder taxpayers of the RM are disillusioned with this Reeve and council when they can’t be upfront about something so simple and insignificant as the expiry date of a tender?

The more secrecy there is , the more questions people have.

RM Residents deserve better than they have received from this council.

By Shane Gibson, The Daily Graphic

The construction of the PCU Centre at the fair grounds on Island Park in Portage la Prairie can move ahead as planned while a notice of application hearing against the project is heard next month.

At a hearing held at the Court of Queens Bench in Portage into whether an injunction would be placed on the project during court proceedings, Justice Albert Clearwater dismissed the injunction application without merit.

A group of concerned ratepayers from the RM have filed the notice of application against the RM in an attempt to quash their Aug. 14, 2007 vote allowing the RM to tax ratepayers for the $8 million in funding it has promised for the multiplex project.

The group had hoped to halt the construction at the project site until the notice was heard.

After listening to hours of arguments from lawyers on both sides, Clearwater said the RM had followed the rules specified in the Municipal Act when they notified ratepayers about the project.

The notice of application hearing has been tentatively set for Nov. 17 and 18 at the Court of Queens Bench in Portage.

RM and city councils don’t put construction approvals on their agendas

By Shane Gibson, The Daily Graphic

The final two tender packages for the PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie will have to wait a little longer to be voted on by the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie — the tenders were not on the agenda at Tuesday’s council meeting for councillors’ approval.

Reeve Toby Trimble explained although the project manager Guenter Schaub of Tower Engineering has gotten all tenders back, he is still working out the details of the packages.

“We’ve met with Guenter and Dominion Construction, and they are still working with individual contractors on some of the quotes,” he explained after the meeting.

Although Trimble couldn’t say whether the tenders would be on the agenda at the RM’s next council meeting, scheduled for Oct. 28, he did say the wait will not increase the costs or hold up the project.

“What’s being done now is being covered by tenders 1 and 2,” he said.

But just because the last two tenders weren’t on the agenda at the Oct. 14 meeting, didn’t mean the contentious issue wasn’t brought up during the council meeting Tuesday.

Bob Murray, who has appeared as a delegation before the RM council several times this year, again addressed councillors with his concerns about the RM’s $8-million commitment to the multiplex project.

The Oakville-area resident told council he doesn’t feel it’s fair the RM put $200,000 of taxpayer money into its reserve last year for the project, and will put another $500,000 in this year and next year.

“So our taxes are up 6.7 per cent in 2008 to fund the multiplex that hasn’t even been built yet,” he said to council. “You’re taxing us in advance.”

After the meeting, the reeve defended the RM’s taxing structure, saying council has put money into reserves for things like the rural water project in the past, and did it again to reduce the amount the municipality would have to borrow for the project and save some money on interest.

There has been many questions asked about what this new Recreation Authority will be. The story was broke by the Daily Graphic apparently before the Mayor and Reeve were ready to discuss it.

Because there has been no more information come forward regarding their plans, we thought we at the PortageMultiplex.com website would assemble some information for the public to read.

An expected plan has this Recreation Authority to oversee the PCU Center complex and presumably other facilities in the City and RM . Because most city facilities run at a considerable deficit, it will make most rural residents concerned that they will have to begin paying for the City’s decisions of the past when the rural residents had no say in their construction. Not that Rural Residents have had any say in the PCU Center construction either.

Did you know during 2007:

Splash Island had a taxpayer funded deficit of 109,635 $

Centennial Arena had a shortcoming of 198,283 $

The Island of Lights was short 22,062 $

What about Island Park’s Operating expenses? Republic of Manitoba Park? Southport Swimming Pool? Glesby Center?

Does the Recreation Authority plan to annex the 4 recreation facilities in Oakville to help fund the deficits in Portage?

Looking at the Statement of Revenue and Expenditures linked above, is anyone surprised at how the sponsorship revenue and entrance fees of the Island of Lights has dropped dramatically?

If businesses are not willing to sponsor the Island of Lights, how does the PCU Center fundraising committee expect businesses to line up to fund their project?

We would hope the citizens and businesses continue to support the United Way campaign currently underway, as it would be a shame for all these volunteer organisations who truly need support to lose out if people have to choose where to send their discretionary funds.

That is if people and businesses have any discretionary funds left?

With the financial market chaos still swirling, many pensioners and those looking towards retirement have watched a large part of their savings disappear as the TSE has dropped nearly 39% since the optimism of the May 15th Glesby Center PCU Center unveiling.

Farmers have seen Canola prices drop upto 50% since their late winter highs along with large drops in most commodities. Input prices have barely moved from their all time record highs for Fuel, Fertilizer, and Chemical. This leaves farmers with a projected loss on their 2008/2009 crop

And any business who relies upon Farmers or the Public to sustain their salaries, they will be very hesitant to hand over any money in these uncertain times.

One only has to look at the number of businesses that have closed this summer in Portage la Prairie to see that the business climate is not a friendly one currently. No one besides City hall is excited that the only growth in the City is a Bargain Store and a Burger King.

And with the very real risk that they will have a consumer backlash against their business if they donate to the PCU Center, why would they?

Hopefully anyone that has some funds set aside for charity at the moment, chooses to give those funds to those who need it most, like the United Way. Or your local community group.

Or anyone who doesn’t already have both hands in your pocket through your property tax bill.

For anyone with an interest in the final copy of the Lease Agreement between the City, RM and the Portage Fair Board , please download the following file.

RM / City / PIEA Lease Agreement

Be sure to keep a pencil handy and make notes as to your best guess what the actual cost will be for everything.

Here is the original Memorandum of Understanding between the parties.

RM / City / PIEA MOU