By Heather Black
Council is not committed to budget cost increases related to the construction of the roundabout centrepiece, and is instead seeking further information on the proposed changes.
Town manager Evan Parliament submitted a report to district committee of the whole last Wednesday that outlined the additional charges for the centre piece of the roundabout that come to a total of $11,050, which would propel the project over its $300,000 budget.
Half of this is being paid for through money received from the Economic Opportunity Fund, administered by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
“So we’re looking at about $150,000 and we don’t want to extend that, it’s currently in our budget to do that,” Mayor Terry Rysz said. “It still remains to be seen. If it’s totally necessary to add a bit, we probably would consider it, but that would have to be in the 2017 budget deliberations.”
Council has an upcoming meeting scheduled with the contractor, McElhanney Consulting Services, at which time they will get more clarity as to what McElhanney has planned and why they really need the additional funding.
“Administration money is what they’re asking for,” Rysz said of the request, which lists additional meetings, presentations, conference calls and a model of the art feature. “We’re not really comfortable with their request so we’re going to meet with them again and get all the details in place.”
The full report and financial breakdown can be found online at www.sicamous.ca in the Sept. 14 committee of the whole agenda.