Contaminated soil halts part of Virginia public safety center work; city to review remediation plan next week

Sean Lewis, senior project manager for Kraus-Anderson, told the Virginia City Council on June 17 that crews uncovered a larger-than-expected zone of soil with a petroleum odor while excavating stormwater basins on the south side of the new public safety facility site. The discovery has paused earthwork in that area while laboratory testing and a remediation plan are developed.

Lewis said the project remains on schedule and within budget overall, that the building construction is continuing and that staff had set aside a contingency specifically for contamination work. “We did set aside the $67,000 to manage that,” Lewis said; he added that testing last week showed more contamination than anticipated and that the team stopped excavation to sample and assess volumes.

Why it matters: The contamination affects stormwater-basin work and associated site elements — including a planned ground-mounted solar array in the southeast corner — and could require additional remediation costs and schedule changes. The presence of contaminated soil requires notifications and coordination with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Key details: - Budget and schedule: Lewis said the overall project is on track to open fully in September, with move-in activities starting in August. The owner contingency balance cited in the update was about $660,000; the team had previously set aside roughly $67,000 for anticipated contaminated-soil work. - Extent and testing: Crews encountered what field staff described as soil that “smells like diesel.” The contractor NTS (site environmental consultant) collected samples and submitted them for lab analysis; results were pending at the time of the briefing. - Options considered: Project staff explored redesigning pond locations to avoid contaminated areas but reported constraints — existing sewer lines, property lines, and the planned location of the solar array — made relocation difficult without introducing new risks and likely delays. Lewis said the team can limit excavation to the footprint required for construction and may leave contaminated materials in place if they can be safely encased consistent with regulatory guidance. - Next steps: City staff and the construction team plan to present a recommended remediation approach and cost estimates at the council meeting the following Tuesday. Lewis emphasized he had no change-order or cost-request recommendation at the June 17 update; the team is pausing earthwork while tests and options are completed.

Regulatory process and risk: Lewis said the MPCA will be notified as required. The contractor and city will develop a plan that may involve removal and disposal of contaminated soils, on-site containment with engineered cover, or other options consistent with MPCA guidance; the final approach depends on test results and cost estimates.

Council response and schedule: Mayor and councilors asked whether remediation could be limited to the building footprint and whether work might extend beyond the property line. Lewis and project staff said it is possible to limit remediation to the construction footprint and that they do not expect to need to excavate beyond the city’s property. The council reserved judgment pending the remediation plan and cost estimate due at the next council meeting.

Ending: The city will receive testing results and a recommended remediation plan and cost estimate at the next council meeting; work on the building continues while the stormwater-basin earthwork remains paused.