By Riley Wilcox

The City of Fernie Public Works buildings will get a complete overhaul in 2019 at an estimated $5,056,056 cost.

The aging infrastructure was in need of repairs to all its major buildings. The Quonset building has been closed due to it being an unsafe work environment. The Public Works Carpentry building was moved to the site in 1940.

The City of Fernie’s Operational Services Department recommended to council March 11 that staff be authorized to negotiate a contract with Eagle Builders LP for construction management services and construction of the Public Works Building following completion of detailed design of the project.

The full design costs for the project is $107,000. It was further recommended that council authorize the full exemption of municipal planning‐related application, inspection, and administration fees for this city‐owned project.

Eagle Builders LP original cost of construction was quoted at $6,592,900. The revised cost of construction is $5,056,056 or $207 per square foot.

Councillor Troy Nixon called to question the ambitious timeline for construction with a completion date of October 2019. It was noted by staff that the construction of the building can move ahead with the current buildings being operational throughout the build and that demolition costs were included in the cost of construction.

Eagle Builders will provide a full presentation to Mayor Ange Qualizza and Fernie city council at a March 18 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.

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