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Nicollet County approves warranty deal after contractor’s concrete paving showed clay/mud defects
Summary
Public Works reported clay and mud balls were incorporated into concrete on a 4.3‑mile paving stretch; the board approved a warranty agreement with paving subcontractor PCI requiring a $1,000,000 bond and repairs, with final execution contingent on county‑attorney approval.
Nicollet County Public Works told commissioners that during concrete paving on the County Road 15 reconstruction (SAP 526‑15025, Trunk Highway 111 to County Road 51) inspectors discovered clay and mud balls in paving aggregates, producing surface defects across roughly 4.3 miles of new concrete pavement.
Public Works staff said MnDOT concrete engineers helped investigate, and that PCI, the paving subcontractor, cooperated, revised its processes and repaired identified defects in advance of a formal resolution. To address remaining and potential future defects, staff proposed a warranty agreement directly between the county and PCI. Key provisions described to the board include a three‑year warranty period, a required $1,000,000 warranty bond from PCI, and a county withholding of certain concrete quantity payments and smoothness incentives (currently a retention of roughly $1,000,000) until the warranty agreement is executed.
The recommended administrative path was to close out the prime contract with Math‑(spelling varies in the record) Construction once project paperwork and acceptance items are complete, while the county would maintain the separate warranty agreement with PCI for repairs tied to clay/mud‑related defects. The county attorney reviewed the agreement and asked for the board to authorize execution contingent on final attorney approval; the board moved, seconded and approved that contingency.
Public Works said field reviews had identified and PCI had fixed many small pockets by sandblasting and high‑strength mortar; staff reported no large‑scale potholes or failures at this time but said freeze‑thaw cycles in coming seasons will be closely monitored. The board approved the county‑PCI warranty approach and authorized the chair and county administrator to sign pending the county‑attorney’s final review.
