Blyth-based architect John Rutledge chosen to take on Blyth daycare design

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

At its April 7 meeting, North Huron Council awarded the architectural and engineering design contract for the Blyth daycare expansion project to local architect John Rutledge. The decision was made after council discussed a staff report that outlined each proposal the township received in response to the request for proposals (RFP) it put out in February.

 

The report, which was co-authored by Interim Director of Public Works Chip Wilson and Director of Recreation and Children’s Services Kelly Steiss, recommended that Rutledge be awarded the contract, as the Blyth-based architect’s bid was the lowest, at $85,675, plus taxes. 

 

Councillor Chris Palmer asked Steiss and Wilson if these designs would potentially include room for a library - a possibility that had been discussed at an earlier council meeting. “Is there going to be an area left open for a possible library?” he asked. “Or is that just not going to be part of the situation at all? It’s always good to think of designing things for dual purposes, if possible.” Steiss told Palmer that a library would not be part of the daycare project. “That was not included in the design scope,” she explained. “We have not investigated this space for multiuse.”

 

Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer wanted to know if the wide range of bids received was an indication that different firms had different interpretations of the proposal for the project. “Was the proposal clear enough?” he asked. “I’m just curious - with the bids coming and ranging from $85,000 to $252,000, is something being missed by someone… two of them are at $200,000 and then the rest are at $80,000.” Wilson assured Falconer that each candidate had attended a mandatory site meeting, and received all the same information about the project. “Everybody understood what they were bidding on, and for any questions or inquiries we made sure they were all informed.”

 

Palmer commented that perhaps the higher bids were put in by firms that weren’t actually interested in winning the contract.
It was brought to a vote, and council made the decision to go with Rutledge, 5-1, with only Falconer voting against it. The daycare is going to be located on a section of the Blyth Campground, adjacent to the Blyth and District Community Centre. Once Rutledge has submitted the design work, it must be approved by council, then by the Ministry of Education. Once the design is approved, the project will be put to tender and awarded by council. Then construction will begin.