> Lincoln joins with other municipalities declaring climate crisis /Pg 6 > Lincoln gets $60K accessibility grant Pg 5 > Skateparks are closed Pg 8 > Spring Home Improvement ideas Pgs 12-15 Thursday, April 29, 2021 Vol. 9 Issue 51
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WLMH build short list set
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow West Lincoln Memorial Hospital clicked by another vital milestone Monday with the three teams which qualified to bid on the build project being announced. Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) announced the three qualifying teams: • Amico Sacyr Alliance • EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare • Pomerleau Healthcare Partners Teams were prequalified based on criteria identified in a request for qualifications process that began in November 2020. Selection criteria included design and construction capability, experience, qualified personnel and financial capacity to undertake a project of this size and scope. Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff is one of many very pleased to see this step in the
process completed “This is good news for the citizens of Niagara West who are eagerly awaiting the opening of this new hospital,” said Oosterhoff. “As we progress through these steps, the Government of Ontario remains committed to making sure this build is done in a timely way. I will not stop fighting for an expedited build until the doors open.” Bart DeVries, HHS’s director of redevelopment, explained what the “teams” on the announced roster means. “These teams will be invited to respond to the RFP (request for proposals) which will be posted in July. This is the stage where they submit a proposed design and guaranteed fixed price,” DeVries said. “The RFP closes in late November and we will evaluate the bids with Infrastructure
One of the conceptual renderings released to give some idea of the potential look for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s new front entrance area. Full details on the renderings, future services and possible layouts are included in NewsNow #1 podcast: https://www.wn3.ca/category/podcast/ Ontario. From those steam ahead.” have three, high-qual- to design and build the bids, we will be able to DeVries added that, ity teams interested hospital, but also the select the successful because of the require- in this project. WLMH financing required unteam by next spring. ments of the WLMH is being tendered as a til they hand over the Preparing the bids and build, those seeking to design-build-finance keys once construction evaluating them both win the bid have a high model. This means is complete,” DeVries take time, but this pro- bar to meet. that teams will need said. See RFQ, Page 3 cess is still moving full “We are fortunate to to have the capacity
Grimsby bylaw change covers non-authorized bank signatures By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Another 5-4 vote at Grimsby council Monday night will allow for a town procedural bylaw change which backdates signatory processes to cover early April. At issue for the dissenting four members of council is the fact the
Town’s CAO Harry Schlange approved staff sign banking documents when they had no authority to do so. Another heated debate ensued with all sense of decorum going out the window with Coun. Dave Sharpe repeatedly cutting off Mayor Jeff Jordan and injecting many com-
ments while Coun. Lianne Vardy was speaking at another point. The core of the issue arose when several members of staff were terminated in succession leaving a shortage of council-approved signing authorities for the municipality. Melanie Steele, new interim director of finance/treasurer, submitted
a report to council to clear up “inconsistencies” with banking documents and signing authority designation. Up to March 31, she noted all practices were “reasonable and did ensure that the Town could continue to make payment for goods and See BACKDATE, Page 3