Dotting I's and crossing T's

LEWISPORTE - Curling rocks were thrown at the Lewisporte Stadium last Wednesday evening but by mid-afternoon Thursday there was little more than patches of ice remaining.

With the seasons finished for minor hockey and figure skating, the practice ice has been removed and now officials with the Town of Lewisporte are awaiting the final signatures so that the renovation process can finally get underway.

Although the tender for the work was called in February and the tenders have been reviewed and a decision made, government still needs to sign off on it and officially award the tender.

"The tender for the modified arena project, which is not modified other than the elimination of the curling rink, tenders were called and closed Feb. 26 and right now we are simply waiting on sign-offs from government to allow our consultants in consultation with ourselves to award the tender to the low bidder," said Lewisporte town manager Perry Pond.

Mr. Pond said this is just a formality, noting that with government money it is the way things work.

"We are waiting for that last piece of correspondence before we can say who it is and how long it will be," he said.

It was hoped to have the work begin as soon as the ice was taken up, but until the paperwork is signed off, that will not be happening.

"We were hoping to start in early April and we are still anticipating it will start but until we get that final piece of correspondence we really can't do anything and neither can the contractor," said the town manager.

Mr. Pond said they are putting pressure on government to get the paperwork completed, noting that government has timelines to get their work done.

"We are not concerned with that, we just want to get it done," he said.