Township awards contract to demolish Mount Forest pool

KENILWORTH – The cost to demolish Mount Forest’s public swimming pool is very close to what it would have cost to make repairs to the pool a few years ago.

In an expedited process, North Wellington Township posted its request for tender (RFT) for demolition of the Lion Roy Grant Community Pool and its bath house on Aug. 19, and contractors had until Sept. 11 to submit their proposals.

Three submissions were received before the deadline, with the lowest price coming from Yard Weasels Inc. At $197,754, including HST, it was more than $100,000 less than the next lowest bid.

The other two tender packages, from Schoeten Excavating Inc. and from Reeves Construction Ltd., were priced at $314,465 and $320,908, respectively.

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“Yard Weasels Inc. was the lowest tender bid cost and met the RFT requirements as specified,” said a township staff report, included in the Sept. 23 council meeting agenda. It went on to say staff recommend awarding the project to Yard Weasels Inc.

The bid was below the approved 2024 capital budget of $200,000 for the project, the report said.

When the outdoor pool failed to open at the beginning of the 2022 season, council was told the facility needed an estimated $190,000 in repairs – $170,000 to replace the liner and a further $20,000 to address issues with the recirculation system.

At a special council meeting in June of 2022, council directed staff not to pursue repairs, and to instead direct $200,000 to a reserve fund for a new pool in Mount Forest.

Council did not discuss the RFT for demolition at the Sept. 23 meeting, but approved the recommendation to award the contract to Yard Weasels as part of a larger group of motions.