District to spend $450K over budget at transfer stations

The increase was almost double the budget amount

District of Muskoka Council agreed to spend over $1.3M on permanent waste ramps for its transfer stations, in the April 22, 2025, meeting.
According to the staff report, the initial budget for the project was $864,800 plus HST from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve Fund of the 2025 Capital Budget, however, staff recommended they increase the budget by an additional $450,000 to accommodate the contract bid.
Council approved the staff recommendation for the contract to be awarded to Arenes Construction for $1,059,254 plus HST, for a total of $1,314,800.
Staff indicated that they only received one bid to work with out of 9 takers.
The report explains that the current waste barriers at the transfer stations were a temporary measure approved by the District in 2023 to ensure resident safety from fall hazards for dropping off waste until staff figured out a permanent solution. However, they were causing challenges lifting material over the barriers.
It adds that the temporary barriers were also costing the District $9,600 per month ($115,200 per year) plus HST, accounting for 37% of the Transfer Station Waste Operations budget.
Last year they hired Thatham Engineering to design permanent barriers to be implemented at District transfer stations which were completed in November for implementation this year.
The site work is scheduled to begin early June and completed by the beginning of July, before the peak summer period.