The Township of Minden Hills is turning to the community, issuing a request for donations of “value-added” items to the township’s arena project.

As previously reported, value-added items are those not included in the project’s base budget. The initial budget for the project was approximately $12.5 million. That number was increased to $12.75 million when the builders came to council requesting additional funding last winter. Under the project’s integrated project delivery design, the builder – Ottawa’s McDonald Bros. Construction – was responsible for tendering sub-trades, and any savings that were found were to be accrued in a joint contingency fund referred to as the “profit pool,” with those monies being split between the company and the township. The municipality would use any of its share to pay for some of these value-added items, which range from a projector and screen to office and lobby furniture to window shades to paving the remainder of the building’s parking lot.

As the project nears completion, staff reports have indicated there will be no surplus on the project. The full list of value-added items totals an estimated $430,000. With an Ontario Trillium Foundation it can use for some $130,000 of those costs, it leaves about $300,000 of items for the township to pay for, should council choose to include them in the project.

Councillors discussed the issue during a June 11 committee-of-the-whole meeting and were scheduled to decide during their June 25 meeting which items would be included. It was also suggested during that meeting that perhaps the township seek community assistance with some of the items, and on June 22, the township made a Facebook request for donations of those items.

They include: a canopy for the rear entrance of the facility; a sprinkler system for the community centre and Scouts’ hall portions of the facility; advertising frames; a ceiling-mounted projector and screen; paving of a portion of the parking lot; artistic murals and reproductions; lobby furniture including chairs and tables; office furniture and equipment; window shades; an exterior LED messaging centre.

“These items will enrich and provide additional value to this significant and extraordinary project,” the message from the township read. “Council would like to extend this opportunity for enhancement to all individuals, residents, businesses, visitors, artists, and organizations wishing to be part of this historic and exciting undertaking in Minden Hills.”

Anyone interested in making any such donations is asked to contact deputy clerk Shannon Prentice at sprentice@mindenhills.ca.
The township continues to seek members for a fundraising committee for the project, and anyone interested in joining that committee can also
contact Prentice.

During council’s June 11 committee-of-the-whole meeting, there was also discussion about money for a canteen at the new arena. The project’s budget does not include money for canteen equipment, and some members of council felt strongly that a canteen needed to be provided. There was some suggestion from staff that vending machines may be provided in place of a canteen.