CE awards $15.2-million sewage plant contract

Central Elgin councillors on Monday morning, Oct. 31, unanimously awarded the job of building a new mechanical sewage treatment plant for Port Stanley to HIRA Construction of St. Thomas, which had the lowest of eight tenders with a price of $17.68-million.

Physical Services Director Lloyd Perrin said that included a $2.5-million “contingency allowance,” and municipal managers had made clear to HIRA they expected the new plant to cost $15.2-million.

Only truly exceptional circumstances would warrant dipping into the contingency, he said.

Councillors also ordered updates to studies of the municipalities water and sewer rates and development charges, with an eye to increases to help play for the plant.