Coffee County construction moves forward; commissioners approve $2,940 change order after crew uncovers old septic tank

Coffee County Capital Outlay Committee members heard updates on the county's health department and animal shelter construction and approved a $2,940 change order after excavation crews discovered a buried septic tank at the health-department site.

The change-order request was presented by Scott, a staff member working on site, who said crews encountered a concrete septic tank with an about eight-inch-thick lid while excavating for a service line. "They hit a large underground existing septic tank ... it was full of liquid ... they are asking for a change order of $2,940 on that," Scott said during the Sept. 4 meeting.

Committee leadership described the overall health-department project as progressing quickly. According to remarks at the meeting, the exterior work is complete and interior finishes were about 90% complete; the metal building is erected and roof seaming was under way. Site work for the animal shelter is also active: foundations and forming are in progress and steel piers are being installed.

Scott told the committee the contractor had performed a "mud footing" pour so forms could be set, and crews had run conduits and poured pole bases. He said the sewer main is already tied into the building and that pumps for the septic system are on site, though pumps had not yet been set.

The contractor asked the committee to approve work to pump out and haul away the septic contents, break up the concrete slab, and have a geotechnical engineer check bearing capacity under the disturbed area before backfilling. The chair asked for a motion to approve the request so the contractor could proceed without further delay; Commissioner Reed moved to approve and Commissioner Watkins seconded. The committee voted in favor; the motion passed.

Committee members noted the discovery may have prevented a future collapse in the front parking area if the tank had remained undisturbed. Scott said the contractor would backfill with shot rock from site excavation and that geotechnical testing would confirm compaction and bearing.

No additional funding sources beyond the change order were specified at the meeting, and the record does not list a roll-call vote or a tally for individual members. The committee directed staff to notify budget/finance that the change order had been approved so the work could proceed.

The committee also received site-administration updates: color selections and interior/exterior finish choices were nearing completion for the health department; the committee asked staff to coordinate final color selections and to supply as-built drawings when the project is finished.

The committee did not reference any statutes, ordinances, or other legal authorities in the discussion of the change order.