MELFORT — Five tenders have been reviewed by the City of Melfort for work on the city’s STARS heliport, but currently none can be awarded due to a $47,000 fundraising shortfall.
“The fundraising committee came to council just over a month ago to present the results of their fundraising intuitive, and we had certain confidence that the total budget would come within that number,” said Brent Lutz, Melfort's development, planning and community relations director.
“As it turns out, the tender and other costs associated with the construction of the heliport have put us just over what has been raised. That leaves the fundraising committee looking to raise the remaining funds.”
The Municipal Health Advocacy Committee in conjunction with the North Central Health Care Foundation (NCHC Foundation) ended their fundraising efforts earlier this year amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To date fundraising efforts have raised a total of $471,411 in cash, and a further $13,000 in other gift in kind donations.
The city is intending to award the tender to Con-Tech General Contractors Ltd., the cheapest option, for a cost of about $517,000.
In addition to the cost of the tendered work, additional costs will include fundraising expenses, design and engineering services, project management fees, Transport Canada Certification and a small amount for contingency bringing the total cost of the project to about $606,000.
This is reduced to $531,806, due to donated gift in kind work and material from local suppliers and subcontractors.
The remaining $531,806 is to be funded by the donations— once the $47,000 shortfall is reached.
“This is just a small percentage of what they’ve raised to date, less than 10 per cent short,” Lutz said. “So they’re hopeful that they’re able to make a few more contacts, and as people learn about this and how close they are to executing this, will get behind and support it.”
Due to the fundraising shortfall, council are unable to award the tender until the committee has raised the necessary funds.
The tender remains open for acceptance only until Aug. 8, after which time the contractor is not obligated to honour the bid.
“We want the City to be able to award the tender so that the work can be completed by September 30th as planned,” said Rod Gantefoer, fundraising chairperson.
“We have not heard back from some of the individuals and businesses we approached earlier. We hope, now that we are so close to our goal, there will be people who care about this important cause willing to step forward with donations in time to award the tender before the August 8th deadline.”
The committee are continuing to solicit donations. Anyone interested in donating can do so by contacting Gantefoer at 306-921-779, the NCHC Foundation at 306-921-8955, or Melfort City Hall at 306-752-5911.
