Escalating Costs of the JOC

Tom Mrakas

At a recent meeting of Council, we were presented with a report on the Joint Operations Centre. Once again, Council was asked to review new budget numbers and added capital items for this project. I can’t help but notice that costs keep being added after the project is said to have been completed. I have made the point, repeatedly, that capital projects can not continue to be managed in this fashion. Getting one price, and thinking that’s it, but then finding out afterwards that there are many other items that are added in after the fact that add to the overall cost of a facility – pretty substantially. Certainly in the case of the JOC where these “added costs” are now close to a million dollars. I believe that the Financial Task force who monitor and examine all of the financial and budgetary aspects related to the delivery of this project (comprised of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor) should provide an explanation as to why so many components of the project were removed to meet the budget targets and yet now, after the job was said to be completed, we are being told that these project components ARE needed, and are being put before council as a separate capital project.

Here are my comments on why capital projects cannot continue to be managed this way…

Also the PDF file for the report – Just click on the Drop Box Icon…

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5o0x9xw0wdu91je/Item%20C1-IES17-001-Facility%20Projects%20Status-JOC%20Final%20Report.pdf?dl=0

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8 Responses

  1. Where is the accountability?
    Added Capital Items = $1 million and growing?
    Why have a budget in the first place?! How incredibly misleading.
    Good to know this stuff for next election!

  2. Only in Government would,this kind of nonsense be done,
    Private enterprise would not tolerate these actions.
    Agree wholeheartedly with your comments and hope that
    Council agrres with your point of view.
    It is LOGICAL and only makes SENSE!
    Way to go,Tom and thank you for bringing this to light
    ,

  3. This one is no different than the AFLC repurposing. How much over budget did it go and how late was it. Even to this day, people are still commenting on the shortcomings of the facility and the money spent.

    I did suggest several times that Council needed to do a post mortem on this project and hold people responsible and accountable. What ever became of that? The same thing is going to happen with the JOC, there will be some hand wringing and over time, it will all go away and be forgotten.

    It’s time we held those in charge accountable and responsible for these projects and the cost overruns. Better still, don’t let inexperienced people manage these multi million dollar projects. Do the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have any experience in managing projects of this type? Before putting anyone from Council or staff in charge of these capital projects, questions as to their experience and ability need to be asked. Managing projects of this magnitude should be left to professionals. The cost may be up front, but will save money in the long run.

  4. I think the bigger question is who’s pockets are being filled this time. It seems to me that a forensic audit on this project and on the AFLC project is way over due.

  5. If extra money was needed to get a functional building why was that request not made in an up front manner. These things can be thrashed out before the proper forum being Town Council. Years ago an earlier Council made similar moves on the original Family leisure complex IIndustrial Parkway site. When it began to morph into an over budget situation foolhardy cuts were ordered. Things like no ceramic tile floor for the change rooms and then actually needing a proper replacement tile floor way prematurely at significant high cost. And the outdoor winter salt removal or mitigation feature? We just had to have one. This winter I think we lucked out as almost no salt laden snow was trucked away from curbside areas of Yonge Stree. Yet there was significant salt used all over Town. That salt was rain or melt water washed away into storm sewers into storm seers that lead to precious streams etc. So why the pricey salt mitigation feature at our new JOC? Big bucks for dubious intentions.

  6. Hi Tom

    Thank you for preparing such an informative newsletter. Its comforting to me as a long time resident of Aurora (since 1972) how the town has grown so much population wise, but manages to give generally what I feel is great cultural and service value to the taxpayers.

    It is encouraging that Councillors such as yourself take such an active role to in making our local government remains efficient, transparent and accountable.

    No project goes perfectly and some unforeseen cost overruns are understandable. Certain aspects of the Leisure complex overhaul for example. Here, an older building was merged with a new one, in an effort to create a much more multi purpose facility.

    But it is disconcerting to learn that completing the brand new Joint Ops Centre is also now over budget to the tune of one million dollars.

    It this trend going to continue?. If so,I suggest the town’s tender process needs revamping
    Also, taxpayers deserve an explanation as you say.

    yours sincerely
    Steve Davey

  7. Thanks Tom, for being so responsible!

    The Financial Task Force needs to be held accountable. And the JOC needs to be “held in check”. They do not have carte blanche in spending taxpayer dollars. As to their sneaky tactics that have resulted in close to a million extra taxpayer dollars “needing” to be spent … shocking, ridiculous and not acceptable!

    Sounds like the Financial Task force who monitor and examine all of the financial and budgetary aspects related to the delivery of this project (comprised of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor) were put in place to protect Aurora taxpayers from the “guaranteed yearly increases” that we face in our taxes!!! This Financial Task Force should, indeed, provide an explanation as to why so many components of the project were removed to meet the budget targets, but after the job was said to be completed, Council is being told that these project components ARE needed, and are being put before council as a separate capital project! This is totally unacceptable, especially since the JOC “added costs” are now close to a million dollars. This nonsense needs to stop Right Now! I’m sure I’m not the only Aurora taxpayer who is fed up with escalating taxes, and with hearing about various “pressures” that result in tax increases every single year.

    Perhaps G. Scherrer’s idea that a forensic audit on this project and on the AFLC project is way over due is a good one. Barring that, “public servants” need to learn that they need to follow the rules and stop trying to “get their way” in such an underhanded manner.

    Sincerely,
    Kathryn Lloyd

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