Foresight saves Paradise council a few bucks

By Mark Squibb

Here’s something you haven’t seen much of lately – a town council managing to renew outside supplier contracts at previous years’ prices.
But that’s just what Paradise has managed, according to councillor Deborah Quilty.
The councillor explained that in 2022, the Town awarded a two-year landscape maintenance contract to O’Neil’s Landscape with an option to renew for two additional one-year terms using the same rates identified in the original contract.
Quilty said the contract provided for spring, summer, and fall maintenance visits to a number of sites throughout Paradise. The Town later requested two additional sites be added and an additional summer maintenance visit occur. Those additions raised the value of the contract from $9,434 to $16,463, HST excluded, per year.
“In summary, the Town would like to take advantage of the contract renewal option to lock in the 2022 rates for the 2024 and 2025 seasons,” said Quilty, adding Paradise will go to market for a new contract in 2026.
Quilty moved that council renew the contract for two one-year terms at a rate of $18,942 per year, HST included. Council approved the motion unanimously.
The town had budgeted $22,000 for the work in Budget 2024.
Councillor Patrick Martin, who chairs the public works committee, had equally fortunate news when he brought forward motions for the supply of granular materials, topsoil and sod, and turf maintenance materials.
Martin noted that staff tender the purchase of the materials each year, but tenders issued in 2023 requested the option to extend the contracts for an additional year.
“We’ve seen a tremendous rise in prices the last couple of years since COVID, so locking in some of these essentials we buy every year is good,” said Martin.
The Town tendered the supply of granular materials, used to repair roads, culverts and trails, to Weir’s Construction at $237,613, HST included.
Maritn said in 2023 three local companies bid on the tender with Weir’s Construction coming out as the lowest qualified bidder.
Martin next moved that council purchase topsoil and sod from Murphy’s Service Inc., at the same rate as 2023.
Four local companies had expressed interest in the tender in 2023, but only one, Murphy’s Service Inc., submitted a qualifying bid.
The cost of the materials was not noted, but the Town has allocated $206,187 for lawn damage in Budget 2024, and staff will keep purchases within that budget.
Next, Martin introduced a motion for the supply of turf maintenance materials used to maintain playing surfaces at parks and sports fields.
In June 2023, the Town invited tenders for supply of turf maintenance for the 2023 season, with an option to extend for an additional year.
Two local companies expressed interest in the tender, and Eastchem was selected as the lowest qualified bidder at$ 9,602, plus HST.
Council voted to extend the contract as per the tender price of $11,042, HST included.