Friday, March 12, 2021

Substantial Completion of Quesnel Public Works Facility

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

The new Public Works Facility for the City, located at 1350 Sword Avenue, reached substantial completion on January 25, 2021.

The City has complied with all of its financial obligations for this project and has followed the requirements of the Builders Lien Act. When the City became aware of some unpaid subcontractors, the City worked with the General Contractor to provide some payments directly to subcontractors from funds the City still owed to the General Contractor to the extent that the Contract and the law allowed. The City has now paid all funds owing on this project except for the builder’s lien and deficiency holdbacks.

The City is aware that some subcontractors have still not been paid by the General Contractor on this project. There is no bonding available to provide for payment of sub-contractors, but the City will continue to work with the General Contractor to try to encourage full payment of any unpaid sub-contractors.

There is no requirement for the City to bond every construction project. This is a decision made by owners on a project by project basis based on the unique circumstances of each project, including cost implications and a variety of other factors. In the case of the public works facility, the decision was made by senior staff to not require bonding based on a balancing of those factors and their knowledge and pre-qualification of the General Contractor.

Any unpaid subcontractor should be following up with the General Contractor with whom they entered a contract. The funds held by the City under the Builders Lien Act will be dealt with in accordance with the requirements of that legislation.

The Public Works Department is now operating out of this facility. This modern building replaces the old, decaying, inefficient public works buildings located in the floodplain of the Quesnel River. The buildings located on 21 Johnston Loop will be demolished in the spring to make way for the City’s new municipal RV Park.

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