Inuvik has paused plans for a project to establish public washrooms and a small concession area at the town’s Chief Jim Koe Park over cost concerns.
According to Daniel Dokunmu, the town’s director of infrastructure, three bids for the work came in at $1.157 million, $1.229 million and $1.973 million. One of the companies is local while the other two are not, though they are currently working in town.
Inuvik had allocated $575,000 for the concession, with an additional $100,000 from the NWT government. Even if the lowest tender were selected, the project would face a shortfall of roughly $600,000.
At a recent town meeting, councillors referred the project back to the municipality’s public works committee for further review, saying the cost was too high for washrooms that would only be used seasonally.
Senior administrative officer Cynthia Pihlaja said the bids were at least twice as high as staff had anticipated.
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Dokunmu said the project is already expected to take more than a year. If council chose to proceed with the lowest bidder, he said, the town could complete the foundation and core building work this year, then allocate more money in next year’s budget to finish it.
Other suggestions included installing portable restrooms instead, abandoning the project entirely, or reducing the cost of the 12-metre-deep foundation – which was recommended after a geotechnical survey was carried out.
“Obviously, any option we take, there’s a risk. If we abandon this and go back to tender next year, all the prices might have gone up again,” Dokunmu explained.
He said the concrete-built washrooms are designed to be wheelchair accessible and equipped with stainless steel features to avoid future repair costs.
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Some councillors found the addition of a concession unnecessary.
Mayor Peter Clarkson said the town could revisit the scope of work involved and then decide what is needed. A motion was subsequently passed to proceed in that direction.
“We would be hard pressed to justify spending $1.2 million or $1.4 million on bathrooms that are there for four months,” said Clarkson, referring to the seasonal use of the facility.
“Given some of the other issues we have with foundation and permafrost, those would be pretty expensive bathroom visits.”
