LOGANSPORT — A document submitted to commissioners regarding $40,000 in additional soil work on the 300 South reconstruction project caused them to raise questions about the soil testing process.

During a report to commissioners on Tuesday, project coordinator Jeff Smith revealed that another 400 feet of roadway on 300 South would require additional soil for the roadbed to stabilize the pavement enough to handle future traffic loads.

“We did discover some more poor soil conditions out at the west end of the project,” Smith said.

The issue arose when construction trucks began driving across the future roadbed. The area did not hold up under the weight.

“It was determined that we had a little bit more poor soil then what was originally reported,” Smith said.

Commissioner Gene Powlen asked, “Did they not do soil borings sufficient or what was the situation?”

Smith said bad soil can be next to good soil so results vary depending on where each boring is taken.

Commissioner Gene Powlen said he thought soil borings were supposed to eliminate the unexpected.

“We’re talking close to $40,000,” he said. “That’s a lot of dirt.”

Smith agreed that the testing should be more exact. He pointed out, though, that the county encountered a similar situation on the 600 East widening project. The soil borings did not reveal issues with limestone.

Powlen wanted to know whether the county could hold the contractor, Gradex, or the design consultant, Troyer Group, accountable rather than passing the costs onto taxpayers.

Commissioner Dave Arnold liked the idea.

“Personally, I think they should be held responsible,” he said.

Smith said the county had not been successful in holding construction firms responsible for such miscalculations. He agreed, though, to seek some answers.

Powlen talked about the frustrating nature of change orders. He said a contractor could submit a low bid and then end up coming back for multiple change orders that run up the price of the project.

“I’m not saying that they knew the soil was bad, but I have some feeling that they should have known what was there,” Powlen said.

Arnold said the companies working on the project should have known about the poor soil because of the stabilization process with the Hoosier Heartland  in that area.

“That should have been an indication of what that soil is,” Arnold said.

Steve Easley, the county highway superintendent, pointed out that he had encountered frequent change orders on more than one project, a practice he feels would not fly in the business world.

“If you said you were going to do something, you don’t come back and charge me more,” he said.

In the past, Easley said, the Indiana Department of Transportation has not been sympathetic to the county’s position. He thinks the whole process needs some attention.

Arnold said he is concerned about running out of CEDIT funds by continually dipping in to cover unexpected costs for road construction.

Because the county must pay 20 percent of the $40,000 cost overrun, the commissioners must sign off on the change order. They decided not to do so until they receive answers from INDOT and/or the contractor.

The project on 300 South in the Clymers area involves totally rebuilding the road on the north side of Ind. 25 to allow for semi traffic into The Andersons ethanol plant, ADM and Essroc.

The project will likely not be finished until spring.

• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.