SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
After firing the contractor responsible for completing renovations at the historic Wildcat Cafe, has decided to complete outstanding work itself and city council has been told construction should wrap up by the third week in May.
"We have terminated the contract with the person doing the renovations," said Grant White, the city's director of community services, adding city administration notified contractor Rick Muyres of the decision in late April.
"We're more than satisfied with the work and the quality of the work, it's just the timing on getting things done that became an issue," said White.
The city has budgeted $525,000 for the renovations, which have left the Wildcat out of service since the summer of 2010, but White couldn't confirm how much as been spent to date. He said the $475,000 figure reported in another media report Thursday was inaccurate. The Wildcat was supposed to reopen in 2011.
Muyres could not be reached for comment by press time.
The city's own crews are now working on the Wildcat. This work includes finishing the floor, some mechanical work on kitchen equipment, installing door hardware and shelving, sanding and general site cleanup.
White would not commit to a date the city would be done construction, saying only "our crews are working diligently to get this done as quick as we possibly can."
However, city councillor Cory Vanthuyne told Yellowknifer city administration informed council they should be done working on the building by the third week of May and that operations contractor Luke Wood of Thornton's Wine and Tapas Room should have full run of the building by the last week of May or the first week of June.
"Fingers crossed, we are hoping that timeline can be met," said Vanthuyne. "There's only so much that you can tolerate in terms of time and money and decisions have to be made to hopefully find a resolution and find a more efficient way in which to complete it."
Both White and Venthuyne agree that the Wildcat Cafe is an important establishment to Yellowknifers, who have now gone without the historic eatery for two straight summers.
"Like everyone else, I want to simply see the project completed so we can enjoy the Wildcat again," said Vanthuyne.
