The replacement of the tower which supports antennas and radio equipment for the 911 system and other uses in the Sechelt area will be 45 rather than 35 metres tall. A contract for its installation at the Chapman water treatment plant, valued at $467,635 (plus GST), was awarded to Trylon TSF Inc. at the Oct. 12 Sunshine Coast Regional District board meeting.
The additional height will improve communication coverage for West Sechelt and Sechelt Inlet areas and the cost difference was five per cent over the shorter option, according to the staff report on the meeting agenda.
Impacts of inflation
The board also amended the project’s budget from $246,239 to a maximum of $483,295 to cover the contract and a 10 per cent contingency reserve. The original budget had been allocated in 2016. In approving the change, Sechelt Area director Alton Toth commented that it was “unfortunate to see” the impact that inflation in recent years is having on construction projects. The additional money required will be taken from available capital reserves for the 911 function.
The report detailed that in September 2022, the project was tendered but no compliant bids were received. Staff then entered into direct negotiations with Trylon, the only supplier who responded to their request for a project quote. It noted that with the development permit and approvals from the shishálh Nation to carry out the work in place, the new tower should be completed by mid-2024.
