Knott County Fiscal Court authorizes engineers to finalize swimming pool bid after geotech review

Knott County Fiscal Court on Feb. 16 authorized county engineers and a local bidder to finish pricing and geotechnical checks for a proposed county swimming pool, delaying a formal award until the court has a final, firm quote.

The court heard that an earlier bidder, Patton Poole, had sought an upfront payment schedule the county could not accommodate, prompting the county to re‑bid the project and bring in engineer Steve Harris and geotechnical consultant Trey Master to evaluate site risks. Harris told the court he was cautious about settlement at the site; Master said his review and prior borings showed soft layers around 6–8 feet at one location but that, overall, the pool structure will likely impose less load than a prior building in the area.

"My job is to worry," Harris said while outlining potential worst‑case site conditions. "You truly don't know until you start digging," Master added, describing how excavation can reveal buried debris, tree roots or soft silt that would change construction needs.

Brandon Coleman, who has shown interest in the project and is working with Harris, said he and the engineer need more time to obtain pump pricing and finalize minimal drainage additions. Court members asked whether the pool could be ready by summer; county officials said a July opening remained the goal but emphasized that final pricing and on‑site testing must come first.

The fiscal court voted to allow Harris and Coleman to finalize the bid and return to the court with a formal proposal for final approval. The court did not record a formal roll‑call tally in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote.

Next steps: engineers will perform on‑site checks during initial excavation and supply a finalized estimate (including pump pricing and any rock or compaction work identified in testing) for the court to consider at a subsequent meeting.