The costs of fully replacing the boilers at Mel Lloyd Centre have now been quoted at $243,821, or double the originally estimated project cost of $120,000, Dufferin Oaks administrator Brenda Urbanski reported to county council last week.

As a result, the council has opted to do only part of the recommended work and spend only about $25,000 more than the estimates within the current budget year.

As part of the increased costs of the heating system, the cost of replacing steam heat in the former Dufferin Oaks kitchen has come in at almost triple the estimate: $29,096 instead of the estimated $10,000.

"This is higher because it was discovered that the dishwasher was also heated by steam from the existing MLC boilers," and the higher cost of the boilers might have come about because of the presence of asbestos in the existing ones.

The MLC comprises what were previously the Bryan, McKelvie, Burnside and Bouwhuis wings of the original Oaks building.

Two other wings -Oldfield and Newton - were demolished to make way for the new Oaks.

The need for boiler replacement was identified by Collins Engineering Group in December 2005, when it was estimated that total costs of renewing the heating system would be $120,000 -comprising $10,000 for Dufferin Oaks kitchen hot water, $4,000 for a water heater in the McKelvie Wing, $20,000 for three water heaters in the Bouwhuis and Bryan wings, $32,000 to removal of existing boilers, heat exchangers and such, $44,000 for two new boilers, and $10,000 for various piping and related items.

Now, with the currently projected costs double the original estimates, Ms. Urbanski has offered three options: to defer the boiler replacements; to install two new boilers and continue to use the third one in a reduced role at a cost of $145,596; or to complete the entire project at the hiked costs.

The council chose Option 2 at the total cost of $145,596, made up of $24,000 for boiler demolition, $92,500 for two new boilers, $29,096 for kitchen upgrades, and $20,474 for consulting fees.

The $25,596 in addition to the budgeted $120,000 is to be taken from the Dufferin Oaks capital account, and the $20,474 for consulting fees from the rate stabilization fund.