04/22/2006

GT to accept septage tank repairs

Supervisor: 'I have no confidence' in design group

By Brian Mcgillivary

bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Acme Township Supervisor Bill Kurtz alone cast a vote of no confidence in Gourdie-Fraser/Christman LLC's ability to fix serious flaws in concrete tanks at Grand Traverse County's failed septage plant.

Representatives of Garfield, East Bay, Peninsula, and Elmwood townships on Friday voted to accept Gourdie-Fraser/Christman's proposed plant fixes.

One tank at the new plant collapsed in June and spewed tons of septage material. Two other tanks are badly flawed.

The four townships, along with Acme, are responsible for funding the plant, thus far a big money-loser.

"We paid $7.9 million of public money for this plant and we didn't get what we were promised," Kurtz said. "It was poorly designed, poorly constructed, and had poor oversight.

"I have no confidence in them," he said.

The design/build team of Gourdie-Fraser/Christman will provide a 15-year warranty on the repaired structures but Kurtz wants the warranty backed by a cash bond.

"A warranty is a promise, a bond is a guarantee," Kurtz said. "How can we settle for another promise now instead of a demanding a guarantee."

Peninsula Township supervisor Rob Manigold said the townships spent a lot of time on the warranty issue months ago and are satisfied with that promise.

East Bay Township supervisor Glen Lile originally wanted the two faulty tank buildings replaced, but changed his mind after he reviewed the situation with the township's attorney and received assurances from the county's consulting engineer.

Gourdie-Fraser/Christman proposes to fix design and construction flaws by bolting stainless steel beams to the outside of the tanks. They will cut expansion joints to control cracking, repair existing cracks, and coat the interior and exterior with waterproof membranes.

In addition, workers will epoxy missing L-shaped hooks into the roof and side walls to hold the two together. The missing hooks were the main cause for the collapse of the tank in June.

"It's a sound concept that will work and is in the best interest of the county," said the county's consultant, NTH engineer Chris Campbell.