COCHIN, Sask. — The Resort Village of Cochin has rejected all tenders for the position of project general contractor for a proposed Jackfish Breakwater Project.
Four companies responded to the call for tenders by at the end of April all were rejected.
“[All four] exceeded our budget and contingencies,” mayor and council state in a press release.
“There was no choice but for the Resort Village Council to reject all tenders and investigate alternative options with the project team in consultation with the project engineers and subject matter experts.”
According to the release, the breakwater needs to be refurbished and with some urgency.
The plan was to begin stockpiling rock in June, have shovels in the ground by the end of August, and complete construction by the end of 2024. This would leave cleanup of the site access, finalizing donor recognition and recognition of First Nations historical connections with the lakes area until early 2025.
A budget for this project was $1,800,000 developed in consultation with an engineering firm. This amount is in place through a combination of donations, grants, funds committed for 2024 and a planned resort village debenture of $600,000. All funds received are maintained in a separate project account with sources and amounts recorded.
A federal-provincial infrastructure grant is in place until the end of March 2025 and the resort village officials anticipate all other donors will support an extension.
“We will continue to receive committed funds and fundraise because of the level of priority,” the council states.
“Our goal is to find a solution and get this project competed as soon as possible,” officials state in the press release.
“That leaves redesign, if needed, in the hands of council and continued fundraising shared by council and all resort communities who will benefit from the refurbishment and suffer the consequences should the breakwater be allowed to fail.”
