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Board hears concerns about 900 truckloads of soil, schedules deeper arsenic testing
Summary
District staff reported about 900 truckloads of topsoil moved off-site and said additional testing is planned after geotechnical sampling found naturally occurring arsenic; directors warned that results could affect the settled plan for synthetic turf and require reanalysis of stormwater permits.
District construction staff told the board the project has exported roughly 900 truckloads of material so far and that earlier projections had estimated about 1,100 loads for topsoil export. Board members pressed staff for destination details, accounting of costs and whether any of the exported material went to Westgate or Cardinal Court.
Staff said the topsoil and stormwater excavations are being reconciled and that samples were taken to represent the areas where excavation will occur, including deeper borings for required subsurface stormwater facilities. The district’s geotechnical work identified naturally occurring arsenic in some areas, which could complicate decisions about switching fields to synthetic turf because regulatory thresholds and permitting have changed since earlier sampling.
"I had a count today of about 900 loads," the contractor said. Directors urged staff to clarify which truckloads were charged to the district’s contingency line and to return with a clear accounting. Staff said they are pursuing the most cost-effective sampling plan and will work with the construction manager and geotechnical consultant to present options, including whether the district can blend or otherwise manage soils on-site to avoid mass export.
The board did not change direction on turf at the meeting but asked staff to reanalyze permitting and contamination risk before proceeding with further excavation or turf installation.
