Inuvik is moving forward with a stick-built washroom at Chief Jim Koe Park after abandoning earlier plans for a concrete structure and concession area that came in at more than twice the budget.
During a recent council meeting, town infrastructure director Daniel Dokunmu confirmed that Inuvik’s public works committee has decided to reconsider the project due to high costs.
The concrete washroom was designed to be wheelchair-accessible and feature durable stainless steel fixtures.
Inuvik had initially allocated $575,000 for the concession, along with $100,000 in territorial funding. But when the town first tendered the work, bids received ranged from $1.1 million to just under $2 million.
Council then referred the project back to committee, citing concerns about paying a large sum of money for a facility intended to only operate seasonally.
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“The committee has decided to go back to RFP, to the engineers to proceed with a stick-built washroom. So we’re not going to be proceeding with the concrete building we have planned,” Dokunmu said in the meeting last week, adding the town hopes to secure an engineer soon.
“This time, the plan is to have a stick-built washroom, which will probably – and hopefully – be coming way less in terms of cost.”
