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Quesnel council approves bids for airport paving, municipal campground projects

Quesnel city council met on Tuesday, April 5
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City council has resumed meetings open to the public at Quesnel City Hall. (Photo courtesy of City of Quesnel)

Quesnel city council was kept busy at their Tuesday, April 7 meeting, approving nearly $10 million in project spending.

Council approved a bid to replace the runway paving at the Quesnel Airport by Terus Construction. Quesnel council received a grant under the federal Airport Capital Assistance Program for up to $8.8 million to work on the runway, taxiway and apron at the airport.

Terus Construction, which does business as Quesnel Paving, submitted the lowest bid that met the runway lighting system requirements, saying they could complete the project for $7.9 million.

Quesnel Paving was also awarded the 2022 paving contract for road patching. They were the only group to submit a bid. City council budgeted just over $1 million in paving in their operational budget for 2022.

New pavement is planned on Hartley Street, Neighbour Road and Avison Street this year, with other streets receiving patching or overlays.

READ MORE: Quesnel airport runway will be repaved thanks to $7 million grant

RV Park

Quesnel Council finally gave the go-ahead to begin construction of an RV Park at the old public works yard.

Mass Construction’s bid to build the campground of just over $1 million was $600,000 lower than the other bid received by the city.

“Detailed design was completed over the winter and an operating model once the park is opened has been determined,” a report to city council written by Chris Coben, the city’s director of Capital Works & Infrastructure reads.

“The new campground will have two washrooms and 21 sites which includes one caretaker site.”

The campground is expected to open by “mid-summer” this year.

Much of the project’s total costs are covered by various grants.

READ MORE: Quesnel municipal campground project receives $500K in provincial funding

Landslide properties

Two Quesnel property owners were given instructions after landslides appear to have damaged buildings beyond repair.

Marshall Veterinary Hospital at 1927 Dragon Hill Road has been determined uninhabitable due to the damage, and city staff are concerned the building could cause further ground instability.

A landslide report written by Westrek noted “the slope movement cannot be stabilized either geotechnically or cost effectively,” and “the existing building on this property will never be occupied again.”

Photos attached to the report show large cracks throughout the building, which had been used at a veterinary hospital. It was put under an evacuation order on April 15, 2021.

The property’s owner has told the city they plan to let the property revert back to the city through not paying taxes.

City council directed staff to requiring the property to either receive a report the building can be repaired, or else be demolished by Aug. 15.

READ MORE: Marshall Veterinary Hospital staff left scrambling after receiving evacuation order

Another property, 505 Panorama Ridge, was issued an evacuation order on April 12, 2021.

“Damage to the building is severe enough that it has been deemed unsafe to enter without review of a structural engineer,” a city report reads.

A geotechnical report says the property is not safe, and should not be re-occupied.

City staff do not believe the building will worsen any future landslides, but are worried about the building itself collapsing with people inside.

Council is requiring the owner to place warning signs on the property, and ensure it is not occupied.

The owners of both properties were in attendance, but did not comment to city council, leaving immediately after their items were discussed.

READ MORE: Trails closed, properties evacuated, as Quesnel declares landslide risk

Curling Roof

Council also approved giving the Quesnel Curling Club with a short-term loan to help repair the roof at the curling centre.

The club is anticipating receiving a grant covering most of the costs to repair the roof, but will not receive the funds until after the project is completed. The club has applied for $132,000 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund.

The rest of the funding for the project (25 per cent of the total cost) will be covered by the curling club’s own funds.

The city will need to provide notice to the community before formally entering into such an agreement. The club hopes to have the work done by the summer of 2022.

Spirit Centre Lease

The city will be in Spirit Centre in downtown Quesnel for at least five more years. Council approved renewing their lease of the building at 246 St. Laurent Avenue.

The lease provides accessible public washrooms, office space for bylaw, and office space that is subleased by various community groups, including the Downtown Business Association.

The five-year lease renewal includes a 5 per cent increase in the rental rate of the space, going from $10 per square foot per year, to $10.50 per square foot.

City council will next meet on Tuesday, April 26.

READ MORE: Quesnel council supports joining regional marketing program

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com


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