LSAC Council and Administration to Take Possession of the New Administration Building
Council and Administration has placed an announcement in the Lac Ste Anne Bulletin indicating their intent to move into the New Administration Building and open the doors to the Public on July 26th, 2017. As per the notification, all staff from Administration will not be available to the Public during the move while they vacate three offices. This brings forward a number of questions that LSARA had asked but has yet to receive a response.1. What is the engineering solution for the heaving floors in the building? We understand that weeping tile was placed after the fact. Did this repair the floors? Initially you will remember that LSARA reported that council and Administration was willing to accept a portion of the responsibility and financial component of this issue. Public outcry pushed them to ask their lawyers. In our opinion a totally unnecessary expense. The lawyers advised administration to have no further financial involvement as it was not their responsibility. Are there additional structural issues as a result of this deficiency?
2. Two very large Builders Liens are still in place on this building and land. The first for $208,515.00 by Mayco Industries Group. The second for $173,568.00 by Ryfan Electric. These total $382,083 that has not been paid by the general contractor. You, the Ratepayer are on the hook for these liens and/or their removal. They told you, the Ratepayer this is normal. It is not 'normal'. Accepting this building by occupying it may cause further legal components.
Administration would like you to believe that everything is in order, that there are no cost overruns and no issues. LSARA asks each and everyone of you reading this to ask your councillor (or the Mayor if you don't have one) what they have been apprised of with respect to these issues.
We did. The answers we got were " I don't know. Administration tells council it's all in order. " As a councillor, an elected official, I would never expect that to be an acceptable response. Are there ongoing construction issues? Are there more liens coming?
3. Has a certificate of substantial completion been issued with appropriate hold backs to protect from future liens? If not, we have been further exposed to unnecessary liability. This building is months behind schedule with no apparent penalties to the General contractor, the management firm or the engineering group. That is very poor construction management.
4. The Ratepayers have three buildings that they are now responsible to continue upkeep on that will have no residents. No office staff. The question is, in this economy, and with the commercial rates as high as they are in this County, who, is going to either purchase or rent these buildings?
Furniture from these three buildings is being moved into the new buildings to fill the empty offices that were not required, to create a full appearance. They have also spent a great deal of monies on new furniture for the offices they will occupy.
These are all items to ponder that have likely added more to your financial responsibility as a Ratepayer. Call your Councillors and ask them if they have the answers!
CALL ANY OR ALL COUNCILLORS TO DEMAND THE ANSWERS AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW YOU FEEL - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
- Phone: (780) 937-5360
- Phone: (780) 967-3073
- Phone: (780) 786-4290
- Phone: (780) 785-2095
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