Grightmire Arena reno over budget by $171K in September

J.L. Grightmire Arena’s ongoing renovation costs had already exceeded the project budget by more than $171,000 by the end of September 2018, according to a city report.

City staff did not provide updated information on how far over budget the project has gone over the past four months. The September arena budget information was included among more than 500 projects in a 45page capital projects status report that went to the city’s capital projects works-in-progress subcommittee on Monday, Feb. 4.

Century Group Inc., which has been banned from further city projects until December, originally bid $5,668,000 on the project in 2016. The report noted Grightmire Arena’s $7-million total budget had a negative balance of $171,247 as of Sept. 30, 2018.

Public works spokesperson Jasmine Graham said Century Group’s “construction” budget is one part of the wider “project” budget, and she suggested CGI has not yet exceeded its “construction” budget despite the entire project exceeding the $7million total four months ago. She said project payment certificates indicate that, as of Jan. 8 this year, CGI has achieved about 80 per cent of the project.

Graham said the contractor’s latest schedule update aims for substantial performance by the first week of April and total contract completion in the first week of July.

“City staff maintain reservations in the reliability of these schedule milestone(s),” Graham stated in an email.

The original substantial completion date was Sept. 7, 2018, but the consultant received an extension to the schedule of 14 days for a contractual substantial completion date of Sept. 27, 2018.

Graham said the contract provides for liquidated damages of $1,000 per working day of delay.

“Three subtrade liens have been received and are being addressed by CGI,” Graham said. “The surety company has been engaged and is working with the parties.”