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Pender County delays park opening after septic problems; engineer agrees to redesign at no cost
Summary
Commissioners paused approval of a parks change‑order item after soil and septic issues surfaced. Staff said the engineering firm will redesign the wastewater solution at no cost and provide temporary restrooms; the board asked for bond‑counsel review and deferred action until more details can be provided.
Pender County commissioners on Jan. 5 paused action on a parks project after staff reported soil and septic problems that threaten the scheduled opening of a new park.
Commissioners pressed staff for details about earlier soil studies and change orders, which staff said numbered roughly 11 to 12 and included owner‑requested items and field discoveries. Project staff said an engineering firm (Pond) had designed a septic solution that later proved unsuitable when construction began. According to staff, Pond has agreed to redesign the wastewater solution at no cost to the county and to provide portable restrooms if the redesign cannot be completed quickly.
“Once they started installing the system, they realized it wasn't gonna work,” project staff said, summarizing the construction discovery. Commissioner Dr. Jimmy Tate and others asked for a full accounting of change‑order costs, whether drainage remediation exceeded the engineer's original scope, and whether bond counsel could be consulted to recover funds. Staff said they would bring more complete answers and the project manager to the next meeting. The board agreed to delay approval of the item to the Jan. 20 meeting so those details could be provided.
Separately, commissioners approved a budget ordinance amendment reclassifying sales tax reimbursements and bond interest — roughly $1.8 million described by staff — so those receipts will remain in the associated project fund; the money is restricted to project use and would be applied to debt service or principal reduction if unused for construction.
