The Ellsworth City Council opted to cover the bottom of the K-140 south basin project with about two feet of topsoil. The intention is to lift the bottom of the basin above the groundwater line.

Council chose this option during a Sept. 16 special meeting via Zoom.

Jon Halbgewachs of Kirkham Michael & Associates said it is the quickest, most efficient and least expensive option.

Other options considered were:

• Extending the excavation limits to create a pond.

• A de-watering solution.

• Accept the project as is. The options presented were the result of a Feb. 14 directive by the Kansas Department of Transportation to develop a de-watering plan so the project could be completed.

“As with any other KDOT project, the corrections would need to be incorporated into the plans, and KDOT would review them prior to approval and execution,” city administrator Dustin Stambaugh said.

The council has not yet seen revised plans.

“What has been proposed to date is a phased approach, which is not acceptable to KDOT as it indefinitely extends the final completion date of the project, with no clear solution in sight,” Stambaugh said.

He said KDOT typically allows the local public authority to lead the project to completion.

“But as this project stalled, KDOT took the lead to get the project completed,” Stambaugh said.

Stambaugh noted that Karlton Place, KDOT area engineer said at a recent meeting between KDOT and City of Ellsworth, that KDOT has $88,000 left to complete the project.

The project costs are to be split 80/20. KDOT will cover 80 percent up to $88,000 with the city covering the other 20 percent.

Halbgewachs said there might be cost savings regarding the amount of dirt used. He would have to work with KDOT to revise the plans and then get price estimates from the contractor.

Council member Aaron Johnson said he thinks a lot of people are fed up at all the money being thrown at the project. He asked whether a solution could be found where the city wouldn’t have to bear the entire cost burden of the extra soil.

Council member Darcy Hansen asked if there is eventually going to be grass in the south basin or just a big dirt pile.

Halbgewachs said the area would be planted to grass as soon as the dirt is placed. In essence, the option would plunge the water underneath the soil.

He noted the vegetation currently there has come up naturally.

“It wasn’t planted,” Halbgewachs said. Hansen said the council still needs to figure out who is going to fix it.

Halbgewachs said until a price is received from contractors, it’s hard to have that conversation.

Council member Jessica Kootz said she wants to see more information on the cost.

Stambaugh said by the next council meeting or whenever he receives it, an estimate from contractors can be discussed and a decision made for on who is going to pay for the work.

Stambaugh said the other option would be for the city walk away from the project completely and go forward on its own. The city would then bear the full cost of the work.

Mayor Dan Finnegan asked Halbgewachs to get cost estimates for option 4, accepting the project as is, strictly as a back-up. Under that option, KDOT would close its project and the city could be free to do what it wants.

Finnegan said while he supports the option chosen by the council, it may not work, and he wants to make sure the city has a back-up plan.