From left: Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher and city clerk Matt MacDonald at city council meeting, March 6, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville City Council met in special session Monday afternoon to consider giving some interim financial approval for Yardmen Arena expansion and renovation project.
Director of Recreation Mark Fluhrer was looking for interim approval of $8.5 million of the $20.5 million for the project, while awaiting the guaranteed maximum cost to be established by the construction management firm.
Fluhrer said close to $2 million dollars has been spent or will be soon.
When questioned by Councillor Paul Carr whether or not the project is on time and on budget, Fluhrer said “it is definitely on time. Why we’re here today is to make sure things keep rolling along and we pay the people promptly.”
He said what hasn’t been paid is work on the construction site from December 10, 2016, until now.
Ball Construction was hired last November for construction management to ensure that the project be brought in on time for the first home game of the Belleville Senators in November of this year.
Fluhrer says the city made an agreement with Ball to pay the company $1 million if it meets all the requirements.
In his report to council, Fluhrer says the anticipated Class B estimate from Ball was to be in place in January or early February, however due to some additional design changes that are a result of discovered omissions in scope related to mechanical works in the arena bowl area and other related and unrelated adjustments that didn’t happen.
The construction costs are expected to be about $16 million.
City Council gave its approval to release the $8.5 million as part of the overall budget, and expects to receive the final figure from the management company in the next few weeks.
