Town of Osoyoos council has opted not to complete the second phase of the Gyro Park Plaza this spring in order to allow local contractors to bid on the project.

Phase one of the much-anticipated upgrade of Gyro Park is scheduled to begin this week.

Alain Cunningham, the town’s director of planning and development services, prepared a staff report that detailed how both phases of the project could be completed by early June if council were amenable to giving the contract for the second phase to Crown Contracting Ltd. That would eliminate a bidding process.

“Originally the intent was to wait until after summer to tender the eastern Stage B of this project, but the administration proposed in council’s 2015 budget package that significant benefits could be accrued by Crown Consulting continuing straight through to complete the entire project this spring,” said Cunningham. “This scheduling change is made possible because Crown’s successful tender to Stage A came in at a lower cost and required less Resort Municipality Funding than expected and Crown can do all the work quicker than expected.”

Last fall, Crown was awarded the contract to complete phase one at a bid of just under $600,000.

Staff said the second phase could be completed by Crown Consulting at a cost of $206,000.

Coun. C. J. Rhodes applauded staff for preparing a report that would allow the entire Gyro Park Plaza to be completed in a timely fashion.

However, he could not approve a process where competing contractors, especially local contractors, would not have the opportunity to bid on completing phase two, said Rhodes.

“Needless to say, $206,000 is a huge amount of money,” said Rhodes. “I can’t emphasize enough that local companies should have access to applying for this job. To take that opportunity away from local businesses … I don’t’ feel comfortable with that at this point.”

Rhodes also reminded his fellow councillors that the original plan was for the second phase of the Gyro Park Plaza to be finished in the fall of 2015 and that won’t change if the project is re-tendered.

Mayor Sue McKortoff agreed saying while it would be nice to have the entire project completed in early June, it shouldn’t happen without local companies being able to try and win the contract.

Cunningham said he understands the concerns made by council and that staff was only trying to present an option that would allow the entire plaza to be finished as quickly as possible.

Crown Consulting also has a sterling reputation and their winning bid to construct phase one of the plaza had easily the lowest price, he said.

“In the competition we had for phase one, Crown was clearly the winner,” he said.

Because of the scope of work that needs to be completed for phase one, there weren’t any local contractors that applied, but that certainly isn’t the case with phase two and he understands why councillors would want to allow local companies to bid for this contract, said  Cunningham.

The Gyro Park Plaza will greatly upgrade the space between the parking lot near Gyro Park leading to the edge of Osoyoos Lake.

Phase one will include replacing the former U-shaped parking lot with a plaza filled with trees, bike racks, benches and plenty of open space. There will also be a walkway made of interlocking stone near the town’s concession stands and myriad of other improvements.

Tenders for the second phase will be completed before the end of August with construction expected to begin in the middle of September.

The goal established by the town and Crown Contracting is to complete phase one before the first week in June as the popular Cactus Jalopies car show and shine event is expected to draw hundreds to Gyro Park the weekend of June 5-6.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times