County delays final payment on Phase E3 construction pending VFD replacement; Parametrix hired for future capping design
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Summary
Kootenai County said it is holding approximately $17,000 in retainage for Phase E3 landfill work until a variable frequency drive (VFD) pump is replaced under warranty. Separately, staff said Parametrix has proposed designs for capping older cells and the county expects to seek approval for design services soon.
Kootenai County Solid Waste reported Wednesday that final closeout of the Phase E3 landfill construction remains incomplete because a warranty-controlled variable frequency drive (VFD) that powers a pump failed and the county is awaiting a replacement.
"There's a variable frequency driver, a VFD, that controls a large pump that is under warranty and failed," JP said. He told commissioners the county is withholding about $17,000 in final payment until the VFD is replaced and functioning. JP identified the VFD vendor as EPG (he said he believed the company is out of Illinois) and said United Crown could supply a replacement if necessary, but staff are seeking warranty resolution through the original bidder.
Why it matters: until the VFD is replaced and pump training is completed, staff said they cannot fully close out the site disturbance permit tied to the Phase E3 construction. JP said the contractor completed erosion control tasks and other punch-list items this spring, but the electrical/VFD issue remains the last unresolved item.
Capping and closure design: county staff also reported plans to design closures (capping) for older landfill areas to reduce leachate generation as new cells open. Parametrix prepared a proposed scope of work and pricing for design, drawings, specifications, cost estimates, survey, bid support and construction management. JP said legal and solid waste staff are reviewing the Parametrix proposal and that they expect to bring the request to the Board of County Commissioners soon.
Next steps: staff said they are pressing the original contractor and engineer to expedite the VFD replacement within the next month and will not release final retainage until the pump and associated training are completed. The Parametrix scope will be reviewed and likely presented to the board for authorization to proceed with capping design and later construction management.
Sources: presentation to the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners solid waste update (Aug. 5, 2025).
