Experts identify design flaws in wastewater facility
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POLSON — Commissioners heard the results of an investigation into issues with the construction of the wastewater treatment facility and advised Polson City Manager Mark Shrives on the action that should be taken to resolve the problems.
The City of Polson hired two specialists to look into issues with the building designs at the new wastewater treatment facility. Two flaws had been noted: unexpected water was interfering with the buildings and settling issues were found.
A hydrologist investigated the relationship between design issues in the facility and the groundwater table in the construction area. An engineer assessed the geotechnical design for two different facility buildings, including the control and headworks buildings, which are currently under construction.
Construction on the new wastewater treatment plant began in April, and contractors expected to complete the job this fall. Swank Enterprises of Kalispell is doing the construction, and DOWL Engineering of Bozeman provided engineering design services for the $17.2 million project.
City Engineer Shari Johnson said that DOWL engineers insisted that the groundwater table at the site would not interfere with construction, but the hydrologist’s report showed otherwise. The hydrologist concluded that groundwater was present at the site. The report said that this groundwater was to blame for issues with water in the buildings.
According to Johnson, the engineers have already taken action to mitigate the impacts of the presence of groundwater at no cost to the city. Johnson said that though the presence of groundwater “should have been reflected on better, they did take care of it as well as they could after the start of construction.” The hydrologist recommended that the groundwater continue to be monitored to see the impacts of the changing seasons on the buildings.
The geotechnical expert assessed the presence of a void under the control building, which had caused the building to settle. The specialist noted that the building had been constructed atop an unstable geologic formation on the site. During the design, DOWL stated that buildings would not be constructed on top of that formation. Contractors have filled the void with a mud-jacking slab. Johnson said that it remained to be seen whether there would be more settling. The geotechnical expert recommended monitoring the building for two years.
“I don’t know what the outcome of that is, but I would say it should not be the city’s responsibility,” Johnson said.
The headworks building presented a more pressing issue. The expert hired by the city did not identify a void beneath the building and suggested continued monitoring but no action. However, DOWL engineers calculated that unacceptable settling has occurred to that building. DOWL approached the city admitting that they should have initially designed a pier foundation system to support the headworks building. The company proposed sharing the cost of the unanticipated addition of piers to the foundation of the headworks building with the city. DOWL asked the city to contribute $177,700 to cover materials that would be needed for the project. Shrives said that the city still had $500,000 in contingency funds, which could cover this cost. DOWL asked the city to share the cost because the materials would have been necessary had the initial design taken into account the likelihood of settling.
Commissioners were tasked with deciding whether to pay for the addition, which had been recommended by the company but not the expert. Complicating the matter was the fact that the work of the engineering firm is only guaranteed for one year, while the experts hired by the city recommended monitoring for two or three years.
Shrives said that as the sole wastewater treatment facility for the city, it would be risky to proceed with any chance that the facility could have to be shut down for repairs.
“If we get into operations and we have a problem, it’s going to be that much more expensive,” Shrives said.
Commissioner Bob Martin proposed paying for the cost of the pier system but requiring the engineering and construction companies to extend the warranties of their work to three years each. Other commissioners agreed. A vote was not taken, but Shrives agreed to use the commission’s recommendation to negotiate with Swank Enterprises and DOWL Engineering.
In other commission business, Shrives announced that the city had signed an agreement with Lake County Community Development Corporation and the Greater Polson Community Foundation to create and fund a new business development coordinator position. The 20-hour-per-week, $20,000 per year position will be funded by the city’s Tax Increment Finance money and a donation from the GPCF. The coordinator will be employed by LCCDC and work to promote business throughout the city of Polson. A representative from the Polson Redevelopment Agency and the LCCDC will be on the hiring committee. The Polson Job Service will accept applications for the position.
Shrives announced that two new lawsuits had been filed involving the city. A federal lawsuit has been brought against three police officers for a violation of human rights. Shrives said the Montana Municipal Interlocal Authority had assigned attorneys to represent the police officers. In another case, former city planner Joyce Weaver has sued the City of Polson and Shrives regarding her termination about three years ago. According to Shrives, MMIA will provide legal defense for that case. The commission voted to use Tax Increment Finance funds, rather than gas tax funds, to improve paving and drainage on Second Street East.
Mayor Paul Briney issued a proclamation honoring Rick Skates and Robert Sloan for their years of service to the Polson community. The men were recognized for being employees of First Citizen's Bank, members of the Montana Shamrockers band and active participants in the Polson community.
