Pothole work set to begin

There should be a few less potholes around Sault Ste. Marie after Monday night's City Council meeting.

Streets undergoing major work this construction season include Lake, Tancred, McNabb, Sussex, and Queen Street East.

On Monday, councillors will be asked to award a $538,246 roadwork contract to Towland-Hewitson Construction Ltd.

The contract is for milling and asphalt resurfacing of:

- McNabb Street between St. George's Avenue and Great Northern Road

- Sussex Road from Korah Road to Prentice Avenue

- Queen Street East from Simpson Street to Pine Street

Two tenders received

The City originally estimated the job would cost $576,505. Of two tenders received, both were below that figure.

Ellwood Robinson Ltd. submitted the unsuccessful bid of $546,495.

Tancred Street reconstruction

Council will also be asked to award another contract, this one worth $842,102, to Towland-Hewitson as the low bidder on the Tancred Street reconstruction project.

That job will rebuild Tancred from Bay Street to Wellington Street East.

There were three other bidders, two of which were under the City consultant's estimate of $995,000:

- Belanger Construction Ltd., $943,706

- General Construction Ltd., $948,633

- Ellwood Robinson Construction Ltd., $966,638

"Towland Hewitson Construction Ltd. has extensive experience completing construction projects for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, including Lake Street reconstruction and the Bay Street extension last season," project engineer Ian Finke of STEM Engineering Group says in his letter asking the City to accept the low bid.

Lake Street reconstruction

The City is currently advertising for tenders for the reconstruction of Lake Street between Wellington Street East and Trunk Road. The deadline for bidding on that job is June 6.

In addition, tenders are being sought to supply the City with RS2 emulsified asphalt and and M.T.O. prime, with a June 12 deadline.

Asphaltic concrete, concrete tenders

On Monday night, Council will also be asked to award a tender for supply of asphaltic concrete to Ellwood Robinson, whose low bid on five grades of material was about 1.8 percent higher than last year's prices. The only other bidder was Towland-Hewitson.

The low bidder on ready-mix concrete was Lyons Ltd., whose price on a two-year contract was about 5.9 percent higher than the City's last contract. There was one unsuccessful bidder - Lafarge Construction Materials.

Reg Avery retiring

In other business, Council has been advised that Reg Avery, the City's commissioner of Public Works and Transportation, will retire at the end of August.

Last year, Avery was one of five City employees whose salary and taxable benefits totalled more than $100,000.

He earned $101,838 in salary plus $3,922 in benefits.

Avery has served the City for 30 years.

Heard on the street

"Question: How many City Councillors does it take to fill a Macdonald Avenue pothole?"

"Answer: You start throwing 'em in and we'll both know!"