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December 13, 2005Long warranty for tanksConcerns over defects push GT to take 15 yearsTRAVERSE CITY - Concerns over "latent defects in construction" at Grand Traverse County's septage treatment facility pushed the county to take the longest warranty it could obtain on reconstructed tanks - 15 years.Early last week the five local townships that fund the facility wanted a warranty guaranteed by a bond and were willing to settle for a five-year term. The 15-year warranty is not backed by a bond. Gourdie-Fraser/Christman LLC, the designer/builder of the failed facility, offered the townships their choice. "After that meeting some people told me I'm selling the farm to take the five-year instead of the 15-year warranty," said Peninsula Township supervisor Rob Manigold. After the county's engineering expert, NTH Consultants, recommended the longer warranty Manigold said he'd be "more comfortable" with 15 years. Garfield, East Bay, and Elmwood townships also supported the 15-year warranty. Acme Township supervisor Bill Kurtz voted no. He preferred to have at least some, if not all of the warranty guaranteed by a bond. NTH said that given the long-term financial stability of the Christman Company the longer warranty would better serve the interests of the county, "given the latent defects in construction" of the facility. Defects that have not been discovered by NTH and might manifest themselves years down the road makes the long-term warranty superior, NTH told county officials. Most defects should be evident within two years, but defects in materials could take as long as seven years to show up, NTH said. Approval of the contract amendment will allow Gourdie-Fraser/Christman to begin taking apart the membrane tank building that collapsed in June and released 150,000 gallons of partially treated sewage. The deconstruction will allow NTH to look for more possible flaws in how the tanks were built. Depending on what NTH finds it may recommend the other two concrete tank buildings also be demolished. Like the tank that collapsed, the other tanks are missing reinforcing steel and weren't designed to the industry standard to prevent leaks and cracking. A decision on repairs or replacement will be made in January.
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