The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Soil issue costs estimated $450,000 to high school project

Burglaries reported in Oxford
2/10/12
Local reaction mixed on Obama’s switch on birth control provision
2/10/12
Police patrolling for overweight trucks
2/10/12
Pentagon to allow women to serve near front lines
2/10/12
County candidates seek to sway voters at forum
2/10/12
> More headlines

By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer 6:10 PM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Talawanda schools will spend an estimated $450,000 budgeted to chemically remove moisture from wet soil at the site of the new high school.

Construction manager Bob Pollitt told the school board the soil cannot be used as it is to compact it enough to construct a building pad – which is what the foundation sits on.

Pollitt said there is a chance the soil could be usable in the summer by turning the dirt and letting it dry in the sun, but a wet summer would eliminate that option and would result in a long delay in construction.

The school board voted unanimously Monday, Nov. 16, to approve the chemical drying.

The $450,000 is not an additional cost because it is covered in the existing budget under contingency money.

Lime kiln dust will be mixed into the soil on the spot where the high school will be constructed. Additional drains also will be installed as needed to prevent future water issues.

Board members spoke favorable of the project, with member Michael Crowder giving the go-ahead to avoid delaying construction and possibly getting into a bidding war with other nearby districts that have an upcoming construction project.

Board member Mark Butterfield said he was not worried about delays, but just wants the building to be the best it can be.

Pollitt said the construction team agrees chemically drying the soil is in the best interest of the project.

“We feel confident this is the best solution,” Pollitt said.

Share this article