In a second matter, the Macon County Commissioners expressed disappointment over the company with which it contracted for a $4.5 million sewer line project. The contractor, an environmental engineering firm that gets a lot of government jobs and is one of my neighbors, was faulted for not correctly assessing the softness of soil. The project already used up $22,000 in contingency funds. The new issue is expected to cost an additional $162,000. That will still leave $30,000 in the project’s contingency fund, but the commissioners weren’t expecting to use so much so soon. Commissioner Ronnie Beale noted the environmental engineering firm had had cost overruns on another project they did for the county. Reportedly another sewer line required three tries and $200,000 before it proved faithful.
One might ask if environmental experts do not think it reasonable to do as much testing as they have to to truly understand the geology of an area, how well the geotechnical surveys required by steep-slopes and floodplain ordinances will accurately assess building conditions. Should owners be made to test and pay until there are no funds left for construction?
