Jackman Drive to get the full monty

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl has approved upgrades to Jackman Drive in the amount of $365,269 (HST included).

The upgrades include the full replacement of water, sanitary, and storm systems, asphalt, curb, and sidewalks.

The City received five bids, but only three proponents achieved the minimum technical score necessary. Each proponent also included options for both part-time and full-time inspection services as part of their submissions.

The planning committee recommended the contract be awarded to Englobe Corp., the qualifying bidder with the highest overall score. Councillor Bill Antle brought forward a motion to that effect during last week’s public meeting and council approved it unanimously.

Mayor Dave Aker said it’s a major project that was “long overdue.”

Summit Centre to get a new diving board, starter blocks

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council last week approved the purchase of new starter blocks and a new diving board for the Summit Centre swimming pool.

The City received three bids for replacement of the starter blocks. One bid was deemed incomplete and thus disqualified. The recreation committee recommended council award the contract to the lowest bidder, Water and Ice, in the amount of $76,312 plus HST.

The committee noted the company is Canadian.

Council also voted on the replacement of the pool’s diving board. The current diving board was installed when the pool opened in 2014. Given a decade of use, the board has begun to show wear and tear on the stairs, platform, and stainless-steel rails.

“We’re going to replace the diving board with an identical placement to ensure that it aligns and all specifications meet the anchor patterns and so on and so forth,” said councillor Jim Locke, who, as a side note, remarked it was hard to believe the Summit Centre pool is already 10 years old.

The City received three quotes, and the recreation committee recommend awarding the contract to the lowest qualified bidder, Water and Ice once again, in the amount of $29,882 plus HST.

City extends Spartan Fitness contract

By Mark Squibb

Fitness enthusiasts will be happy to hear the City of Mount Pearl has extended its gym equipment maintenance contract with Spartan Fitness for another year.

Councillor Jim Locke, during the February 4 public meeting, explained that for some years now the City has had a preventative maintenance contract with Spartan Fitness and the contract was due to expire April 30.

“There is a provision to extend for another year if agreeable to both parties,” said Locke. “And we talked about this at length at our committee, and these preventative maintenance contracts are working very well for the city. These pieces of equipment that we purchase are not inexpensive, they’re commercial grade, high-quality, and get a lot of use, and we find that these maintenance contracts have extended their life.”

Council voted unanimously to extend the contract for an additional year at a cost of $16,560 HST included.

Frosty Festival has come and gone

Another Frosty Festival has come and gone. This year’s festival boasted a nerf gun night, comedy night, concerts, community breakfasts, afternoon teas, free swims, a wine tasting, Frosty’s Birthday Party, and more. Pictured from left are Mayor Dave Aker, Mount Pearl North MHA Lucy Stoyles, councillor Jim Locke, councillor Bill Antle with grandchildren Arlo and Lincoln Noseworthy, Mount Pearl Youth of The Youth Courtney Abbott, Miss Newfoundland and Labrador Sarah Legge, volunteers Wanda Tiller and Robert Hynes (both of whom are former Frosty Festival chairpersons and former ‘Mount Pearl Citizens of The Year’) and councillor Mark Rice, who were in attendance at Frosty’s community breakfast, amongst many other events. During last week’s public council meeting, members of council praised City staff and volunteers for their efforts in making the festival a success. City of Mount Pearl photo

Frosty's Big Birthday Party

Players with the Mount Pearl Girls Under 15 metro soccer team were quick on the ball at Frosty’s Big Birthday Party at the Glacier on February 8, selling tickets on a $50,000 prize to raise funds for a couple of trips this coming season. The squad includes, starting in the back row, from left: Gloria Power, Avery Stowe, Kaitlyn Braybook, Leah Buckle, Alyssa Simmonds, Sienna Mercer, Sofia LeGrow and Emily Head. Craig Westcott photo

City remains committed to public safety plan, Fry says

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl made headlines last fall when three residents fell victim to random attacks believed to have been committed by youths, and while a looming provincial election, tariff threats from across the border, and a new Churchill Falls deal have dominated the news cycle these last couple of months and news of the attacks have fallen to one side, council says it remains committed to community safety.

“Our municipal enforcement officers continue to patrol streets, the parks, the trails, and other city areas,” said councillor Isabell Fry during the February 4 public meeting. “Quarterly municipal enforcement statistics will be posted on the City’s website, so residents can go in and look and see exactly what is happening. We are also recruiting community members to join the Community Public Safety Steering Committee.”

Additionally, staff have been meeting bi-weekly with officials from the Department of Justice and Public Safety to complete Mount Pearl's Community Safety and Wellness Plan.

“This is an ongoing initiative for us and it’s top of mind and we’re working towards making a safer and better place,” concluded Fry.

Recreation Director Jason Collins said staff are working with the Province to help fill positions on the steering committee. Councillor Jim Locke added the steering committee will consist of about 10 to 12 people.

“I’m quite impressed with the level of work that’s been ongoing, despite the fact that we had our public meeting just before the Christmas break, and then things usually slow down over the break, but we are still making great strides on this,” said Locke.

The first committee meeting was scheduled to take place on February 17.

Cassie Rideout named Mount Pearl's top bureaucrat

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl has named one of its own as the City’s new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

The City last month announced that Director of Corporate Service Cassie Rideout had been appointed as the new CAO following an extensive hiring process.

"I am profoundly honoured to have the opportunity to serve as the City of Mount Pearl's Chief Administrative Officer,” said Rideout in a City issued press release. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside Council, staff, and community partners to advance our shared vision for the future. Mount Pearl is a city with a clear and ambitious plan, and I am excited to lead our organization and work with, what I believe is the best municipal staff in the country, to achieve it."

Rideout initially served as the Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Economic Development for the City before being named Director of Corporate Services five years ago. She also boasts 15 years of experience in senior positions at financial organizations such as Manulife Investments and BlackRock Inc., and holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Technology Management, Engineering Technology, and Applied Science from Memorial University.

Mount Pearl approves new million dollar soccer turf

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council this month approved the replacement of turf at the Mount Pearl Soccer Field at a cost of $1,000,243 exclusive of taxes.

Councillor Jim Locke moved that the City enter into a contract with FieldTurf USA Inc., for the removal of the existing surface and its replacement based on the proposal received through the CANOE Procurement Group of Canada and Sourcewell.

Locke said council has been working alongside the Mount Pearl Soccer Association to bring the project to fruition.
“They are very pleased with the work, and how council worked with them and supported them to bring this enhancement to an already amazing facility,” said Locke.

Mayor Dave Aker noted the contract was being awarded through a procurement program instead of the typical tendering process. 

Recreation Director Jason Collins explained that neighbouring municipalities had taken advantage of CANOE when replacing their turf fields, and that FieldTurf, the company selected by CANOE to do the work, had laid the former Mount Pearl turf.

“The accountability of a bidding process is still there, it’s just that the CANOE program adds a certain layer to it,” concluded Aker.

Councillor Bill Antle asked what would happen to the old turf, as a resident had inquired after it.

Collins said there had been some discussion of that.

“There will be a public process is probably the safest thing to say at this point,” said Collins.

The turf, Collins added, has been deemed unfit for future use as a sports field, but could be used for landscaping.

Antle suggested that should the turf be sold, it would be better to sell it prior to being torn up. Collins added that neighbouring municipalities had scheduled days and times when people could come and collect their turf.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of the new turf.