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November 11, 2005Septage plant designer says it didn't know about standardTRAVERSE CITY - The company that designed Grand Traverse County's failed septage treatment facility acknowledged it didn't know an industry standard "even existed" for constructing such buildings.For the county facility, Gourdie-Fraser Inc. designed tanks for hundreds of thousands of gallons of sewage to the American Concrete Institute's ACI-318 standard for structural integrity of concrete buildings. The industry standard for such tanks is ACI-350, which provides more steel to control cracks and leaks while extending a building's life expectancy. "I didn't even know ACI-350 existed," said Terry Boyd, Gourdie-Fraser's structural engineer. A portion of the multi-million dollar facility collapsed in June and spewed 150,000 gallons of sewage about the property. Engineer Chris Campbell of NTH Consultants, who is inspecting the buildings for the county, said it's the lone facility of which he's aware that wasn't built to ACI-350 standards. "ACI -350 is referenced in ACI-318," Campbell said. "It's not like it's hidden." Most township officials who directed the county to hire Gourdie-Fraser are sticking by their choice, however. "I've worked with them for 30-some years and they have always been above-board and tonight they admitted they missed that particular thing and it shows their integrity," said Garfield Township supervisor Lee Wilson. Gourdie-Fraser has been the engineer for the county's Department of Public Works and the townships that make it up since the 1970s. Garfield, East Bay, Acme, Peninsula and Elmwood townships fund the DPW and make decisions for it as the sewer and water committee. The committee hired Gourdie-Fraser for preliminary design work then recommended a design/build contract be awarded to the firm of Gourdie-Fraser/Christman, although its proposal was costlier and they had less experience building waste water treatment plants than other bidders. Acme Township Supervisor Bill Kurtz, a relative newcomer on the committee, called Gourdie-Fraser's revelation "unbelievable." Testing by NTH determined none of the walls of the three tank buildings was properly constructed. "Never have I seen anything as badly prepared as this," Kurtz said. "It's one embarrassment after the other." See Related Stories: Septage repairs outlined - November 10, 2005 Consultants to offer final septage report - November 9, 2005 Subcontractor questions collapse fault - November 4, 2005 Septage report cites company's omission - October 19, 2005 Acme wants Houlihan removed from investigation - October 15, 2005 Septage plant collapse explanation coming - October 15, 2005 County officials back Houlihan in septage investigation - October 7, 2005 Septage 'debacle' questioned; Supervisor wants all info - October 4, 2005 Public awaits report on collapse of septage plant - September 27, 2005 Taxpayers won't foot bill for septage plant repairs - July 26, 2005 Officials looked for 'spin' in septage plant collapse - July 23, 2005 Septage spill situation becoming muddled, attorney says - July 23, 2005 Septage plant repairs tagged at $2 million - July 19, 2005 Health risk from septage plant failure said minimal - July 19, 2005 Well owners near septage plant fear contamination - June 25, 2005 GT County's septage treatment plant may reopen - June 22, 2005 Septage plant 'structural failure' is investigated - June 21, 2005 Burst tank rocks GT County's new septage plant - June 19, 2005
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