The City of Dawson Creek has so far not received a bid for repairs needed to the under-construction-Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts, despite the fact that the tendering period for the project was slated to close two months ago.

Water leaks have damaged the Centre’s basement. In response, city architects recommended that the city should dig up around the building and put in a special type of tile to stop that water from getting into the basement.

While the tendering period was slated to close on Sept. 14, so far no company has taken the city up on its tendering bid, according to information presented to city council.

Council was set to receive a report on this once Duncan Redfearn, the Deputy Director of Community Services, had a better understanding of the project. The remaining work on the project, including the tile project, still has to be valuated.

Mayor Mike Bernier said that the city is still negotiating with local contractors about a price for this tile project.

An early, rough estimate produced by city staff had this project cost approximately $750,000.

Preview Builders continues to work on the main and upper floors of the Centre.

While the project was originally set to be finished by Aug. 31, information on the city's website states that Preview "underestimat[ed] the amount of work and the availability of trades," causing the delay.

Last summer, Mayor Mike Bernier said that council decided that city staff would negotiate a departure for Preview Builders from the project.

Bernier said that now, the top two floors are near completion, and the basement is also near completion, but that the city will not do drywalling and other projects to the basement that they originally planned.

According to information presented at city council, a large portion of the lighting has been completed in the offices and public areas, and they are currently working on the open stairwell chandelier, with exterior sign lighting has also been completed.

In 2008, the city determined that the best use for the old post office building downtown would be to convert into a community cultural centre to replace the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre.

These delays have forced the city to push back the centre’s opening until 2013.

Bernier said that city council hopes to have more information about the project.