by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – At today’s Cerro Gordo County Supervisor meeting, County Engineer Mary Kelly told the board that there are “deficiencies” in new asphalt that has been installed on a 3 mile stretch of Highway B-20 north west of Mason City.
Cerro Gordo County Supervisors awarded a contract for the project to Heartland Asphalt last May.
The 3-mile stretch of B-20 is from Balsam Avenue to Eagle Avenue. Iowa DOT farm-to-market funds are paying for the $1,796,402.76 million project.
“B-20 should be wrapping up, hopefully getting it open this week,” Kelly said today.
The issue was not touched upon in any way in the meeting agenda and was only revealed when Supervisor Jay Urdahl asked Kelly “How’s B-20 coming?”
“We’re working on trying to reconcile our issues on some of the deficiencies, and I had sent George (Jesson) that letter, so … we’re trying to figure out what the best method is … like I said if we go with a (inaudible) we want to make sure we can put a value to that.”
“OK,” Urdahl said, with no further questions.
I spoke with Ms. Kelly on the phone today regarding the issues with the new asphalt that has been installed on B-20. She said the asphalt “didn’t meet the requirements … the county may not pay the full amount” of the $1.8 million contract.
Kelly described the deficiency in the asphalt as “didn’t meet the density requirements.”
The county tests the asphalt after it is installed, taking what Kelly described as a “core” sample. The contractor also performs tests under the supervision of the county, Kelly explained.
I asked Kelly how bad the deficiencies are.
“Not too bad. These kinds of things happen frequently in construction projects,” she said.
Pressed further, Kelly said “I don’t think so,” on whether she thought the road would break down before its 25 year life span is up. “Not to this extent,” Kelly said when asked if this kind of deficiency had ever happened in Cerro Gordo County. “This time is a little higher.”
“We’ve been in touch with the Iowa DOT,” Kelly said, “and we are talking to experts” about how to proceed.
A message left for Heartland Asphalt President George Jesson was not immediately returned.
A request for the letter sent from the county engineer to Heartland Asphalt was made in writing this afternoon. The county would not release the letter until the county attorney makes approval of the request.
More information on this developing story as it becomes available.
Watch entire meeting:
httpv://youtu.be/dHm4sRyiShg
At least we can be thankful that this was put forth in public, that there is a solution, and a recomendation for not paying the full contract amount.
And I have to agree to an extent with another comment, the work went to a local contractor who provides jobs here. But yes, the work has to be at least on par. Which is why we have someone like Ms. Kelly, and her counterpart in the City, whom I see all over projects in town.
I watched this meeting on your video. It looked to me like the Supervisor’s were already aware of the problem.
My question is, having watched the meetings since NIT has been broadcasting, when was this brought up the past few weeks on the meeting agendas before the public? Doesn’t appear to have been.
Is this another one of the closed door meetings they have?
Discussions should be before the public and not behind closed doors!!
looks like the annual smoothest roads award is out of the question for the sups from heartland this year
Has anybody seen the repavement problems by NIACC? The jokers left groves in the road that will trap water that will turn into ice and cause the road to crack along these lines. Are we letting the company that preformed that substandard work get away with that also?
Don’t you want those tax dollars to stay in the county instead of heading to Wisconsin or Minnesota? It helps out the county and adds jobs. How do you know they weren’t the lowest bidder Plus, this won’t hurt the taxpayers. Mary and the staff do an excellent job at what they do. Usually, this is fixable. It’s a nuclear density check which is the sketchiest measurement in construction in the first place.
Doesn’t her husband work for heartland? Seems like that would make sense that they would be keeping that quiet. Since they probably were NOT the lowest bidders….
In fairness to all involved, I think we should give them time to resolve this.
Here we go again. Keeping secrets from the people who pay the bills (taxpayers). We will probably take it in the shorts again just like the 12th street bridge that is breaking up again.