McCormick County Council authorizes up to $300,000 for soil remediation at WS Mims Community Center site

McCormick County officials voted Aug. 30 to permit the county administrator to approve site remediation settlements of up to $300,000 to address unsuitable soils discovered while grading for the WS Mims Community Center parking expansion.

DP3 architects’ project lead (identified in the meeting as Rhonda) and geotechnical consultant Tom Sharp told the council that proof-rolling and test pitting revealed shallow groundwater and subgrade soils unable to meet pavement design loads in parts of the front parking and driveway area. "With this shallow of groundwater, unfortunately, it's not really just remove the soil, let it dry out," Tom Sharp said, explaining the team’s recommendation for targeted undercutting and geogrid-plus-stone stabilization in the worst-affected areas.

The presentation and subsequent council questioning described three bands on the site map: a worst-case zone (green) that may require substantial undercutting; an intermediate zone (orange) likely to need geogrid and stone; and a lighter-duty zone (pink) where in-place compaction or lesser remediation might suffice. Rhonda emphasized the figures presented were worst-case budget estimates and said unused remediation work would not be billed.

Several council members pressed for broader prior testing and for clarity on liability and warranty. Councilman Charles Cook cited the project’s evolving cost estimates during debate: "This originally started as a $2,500,000 project for phase 1, and it is now sitting at 5,776,000 and change," he said, arguing the site should have been studied earlier. Other council members and the administrator said marketwide price changes and unavoidable site discoveries accounted for some increases, and staff presented funding options including capital penny sales tax and other reserves.

A council member raised concern after a public notice used the word "contamination." Project staff and council clarified the correct term is "unsuitable soils," and that the remediation recommendation addresses soil suitability and groundwater, not hazardous contamination.

Before voting, councilors asked that any warranty or liability commitments from contractors and consultants be captured in writing and reviewed by the county attorney. The motion authorizing the administrator to approve settlement/remediation costs not to exceed $300,000 was moved, seconded and approved by voice/hand vote; multiple council members spoke in opposition, and the record shows Councilman Charles Cook voted "nay." The chair announced the motion approved and asked staff to provide the soil-testing summary and documentation to council and to post the results on the county website.

Council members also set a follow-up executive session to continue contract and liability discussions, scheduling a meeting for Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. The special call adjourned after procedural items.

The county’s project team and third-party geotechnical firm said the recommended geogrid-plus-stone solution is designed to provide permanent stabilization for pavement sections if constructed as specified, and that pavement resurfacing in the future may be a mill-and-overlay if the subgrade remains supported. Council directed staff to provide testing reports and written warranty language for attorney review before additional change orders are finalized.