On January 27, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) counties council approved a request made by the Transportation Services department to begin negotiations with EVB Engineering for a detailed design of the planned Main Street reconstruction project in Alexandria. Main Street is the route of County Road 34 through the town. The original vendor (Jacobs Engineering) and SDG jointly agreed to terminate the assignment.
A report to council explained that a “difference of opinion regarding the scope of design work associated with North Glengarry’s underground infrastructure, SDG Counties, the Township and Jacobs mutually agreed to end the design assignment,” and recommended that council proceed with the second highest scoring firm, EVB Engineering.
In the fall of 2022, SDG counties engaged with Jacobs Engineering to complete a detailed design of Main Street that adhered to the environmental assessment of the roadway. The firm and counties then reached an impasse related to the scope and design of the project with the replacement of “existing sections of underground water and sewers.”
Design delays and additional compensation exceeding what the counties believed were reasonable, were cited as causes for the termination of the engineering contract.
Council was informed that there is currently no updated cost to complete the required work, stating that the original design fees for the assignment ranged between $225,000 and $274,000 in 2022.
The report stated that “approximately $75,000 in design fees have been incurred by the previous firm.” In addition, it was suggested that EVB Engineering provide SDG with updated hourly rates coinciding with the original work plan.
“I’m glad that this project’s back on the table. It’s good to hear that you moved on to another engineering company,” Councillor Carma Williams said.
Updated fees will be reported to council for further consideration.
