I had big plans for Friday.

They involved finishing the Engineering Report for my under funded storm project, writing two change orders and approving a pay request.

None of those things even got started.

Apparently, one of the City Commissioners sent in an official request about a road that has failed.

Most of the day was spent collecting data, inspecting plans and figuring out how to respond to the Commissioner.

In the end it boils down to this:

1. A Private Developer hired a Local Engineer to design a new subdivision
2. A Local Engineer surveyed and designed the new subdivision using standard engineering practices and adhering to City codes and ordinances
3. The City reviewed and approved the engineering plans, ensuring that standard engineering practices where used and that all applicable codes and ordinances were followed and the plans were stamped:
   Approval is for general layout and concept only and is based on competency of the professional preparing project documents
4. The Private Developer hired a Local Contractor to construct the subdivision roads and infrastructure according to the approved plans
5. The Local Contractor followed standard construction practices during construction
6. The City Construction Inspectors inspected the project to ensure adherence to the plans and standard construction practices
7. Compaction testing was performed on the roadbed and subgrade throughout the project area
8. The roadbed and subgraded passed all compaction tests
9. The new subdivision passed final construction inspection and a CO was issued
10. The Private Developer submitted the final plat dedicating all the roads and infrastructure to the City
11. The City accepted the subdivision infrastructure for ownership and maintenance
12. Seven years later, the road failed

Given all the above, who is at fault?

What more could have been done to protect the City from having the road fail?

I submit to you and I plan on submitting to the Commissioner that NOTHING could have been done differently.

Sometimes things just fail. You can follow all standard engineering and construction practices and sometimes things fail. You can be diligent in your plan review and in your construction inspection and sometimes things fail.

Something tells me this will not be the answer the Commissioner will want to hear. After all, somebody MUST have done SOMETHING wrong…after all, the road FAILED!

Did I mention he is also an Attorney? Yeah, so, any bets on how quickly Staff is blamed for this?

I’m just sayin’.