The contract negotiations with a selected provider failed in autumn for unknown reasons
CENTER WELLINGTON – The community of Center Wellington will be looking at other options for large-scale termite treatment after contract negotiations with a previous council-approved provider collapsed in the autumn.
In August, the then-council authorized the employees to negotiate a contract with Balson Preventative Solutions Inc. with a cap of $200,000. Balson was one of two bidders who responded to the negotiated bid request, which did not constitute a legally binding agreement to enter into a contract, but rather urged the highest-ranking proponent to begin negotiations.
The scope of the project included public education, autumn nematode treatment and the provision of disposal bins for autumn garden waste for a period of one year.
A previous survey of the neighborhoods in Fergus and Elora found that there are 259 active termite properties identified as being in the “red zone” and an additional 219 “blue zone” properties surrounding the red zone.
This work was expected to begin in the fall and the 10-year capital forecast included $100,000 per year for termite management work in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
However, the termite management program did not continue in 2022.
The community of Center Wellington and the owner of Balson Preventative Solutions confirmed that no agreement could be reached between the two parties.
Requests for comments from CAO Dan Wilson have been forwarded to Kendra Martin, Community Communications Specialist.
Martin did not elaborate on why the contract negotiations fell through, but noted in an email that the management program is still on the community’s radar and has not been cancelled.
“Staff will submit a report to the council (hopefully January 30) with options for next steps regarding the termite management program,” Martin wrote in an email.
Paul Balfoort, owner of Balson Preventative Solutions, said he was verbally informed around the time the new council was sworn in that the community would not proceed with negotiations.
“I don’t know what the reasons were, I wish I knew,” Balfoort said, later adding that writing a contract of this scope was not easy and acknowledging there were questions from both sides about details.
“I’m sure there were some extenuating circumstances at the time, but they didn’t disclose what they were.”
He noted that the $200,000 cap was more than adequate and his team had been working with staff on the technical specifications for nematode treatment.
Balfoort said he’s still interested in working with the community on a termite program, noting that there appears to be a lingering appetite for it among new council members.
Tammy Rutherford hopes the community remains committed to solving the widespread termite problem.
Tammy Rutherford. Keegan Kozolanka/EloraFergusToday File Photo
Rutherford is a local advocate for homeowners with termite problems who formerly lived in a home with termites, and has for many years run a Facebook page dedicated to raising awareness of the problem in the community.
She said in a phone interview she was ready to give termite defense a break, but was later disappointed when she learned from Balfoort and homeowners that the program would not resume this fall.
“Not only are homeowners struggling with this, but the community needs to stop this from spreading, which will happen if we don’t,” Rutherford said.
“I don’t want to say the community is ignoring it because they’ve certainly been working, but it would be nice to have an answer as to what’s going on.”
She said all newly elected councilors and mayors have indicated their support for the program and she is seeking that support to continue moving the program forward.
“This is important to a lot of people, we need to keep the momentum going,” Rutherford said.
