Materials in place; money in dispute
Maria Canton
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Oct 30/00) - Almost nine months after Iqaluit's new sewage treatment plant was to begin operating, it remains empty, incomplete and plagued by complications.
Cement for the concrete that will be used to seal leaks in the plant's tanks has arrived, but a completion date for the project is still several months off.
"Right now we're going through the preparations for about $250,000 worth of supplies for the actual repairs (to the tanks)," said Matthew Hough, the Town's director of public works and engineering.
"I wish I had dates (when the work will be done), but all I can say is we hope to have this wrapped up in several months time."
In the meantime, the town is applying for a five-year licence for the plant and has made its written submission to the Nunavut Water Board for a hearing in late November.
The Town is still trying to complete litigation with Hill Murray, the engineering firm hired to build the plant, and secure a $1.3 million bond for the repairs.
"Hill Murray and (the Town) are still going jointly to the bonding company. We're both working to get the bond for the repair," said Rick Butler, the Town's chief administrative officer.
"We're giving them budget numbers and dollar numbers for the repair and that's all part of the process for the claim. Our lawyers are still saying our position is very good."
The problems started last fall when a tank began to leak during hydrostatic testing.
The Town ran into further problems when they went to Hill Murray to have the leaks fixed.
Hill Murray had hired Quigg Construction Ltd. to build the tanks and they proposed a quick-fix $120,000 solution.
A third party, Dillon Consulting -- originally brought in by the Town to oversee the paperwork -- told the Town that the repair job wouldn't work and proposed a $500,000 solution.
The Town decided to go with Dillon's suggestion and remove the original linings and spray the tanks with concrete.
All of prep work is expected to be done by local contractors.
The actual application of the concrete, however, will be done by a southern firm.
Construction on the $7.1 million facility began in June 1998.
