Council gave the nod to implement a cost estimate development to all capital projects more than $250,000.
The intent is to ensure there are no unexpected cost overruns and that proper contingencies are built-in – highlighted by the $3 million budget shortfall for the aquatic centre/curling rink.
The cost estimate development provides a guideline or scale for each stage of development, becoming more precise at each stage of a project’s life cycle.
The town will also work on putting together a list of pre-qualified contractors with healthy track records of coming in on budget and on time to avoid costly delays and accountability concerns for major town capital projects.
CookHouse Assets
Council provided its support to dispose of the remaining CookHouse assets.
The culinary and small business hub closed its doors in 2014. Since then, the commercial kitchen equipment has remained in storage, continuing to depreciate as administration waited to see if the Cochrane Agritourism, Food Hall and Culinary Hub would take shape.
The group has yet to create a non-profit and the collaborative project to launch a year-round farmers’ market or create a multi-user foodie/small business hub is yet to come to get underway.
Members of council questioned whether the town could utilize the equipment internally. Suzanne Gaida, senior manager of community services, confirmed that some equipment could be used in-house and the remainder (such as the commercial ovens) would be sold to private business.
