Photo by Deb Gau Engineer Jordan Bengtson and Lyon County Planning and Zoning Administrator John Biren go over the final report on a repair project on County Ditch 14 during Tuesday’s Lyon County board of commissioners.

MARSHALL — A repair project on Lyon County Ditch 14 had its final hearing on Tuesday. According to an engineer’s report, the final costs for the project came in below repair estimates.

“The total cost of the repair at this time is about 13.2% below the estimate for repair as contained in the repair report,” said Jordan Bengtson of engineering firm Bolton & Menk. Even with a change order, the actual construction costs from the project were lower than estimated. Most of the project’s estimated contingency costs also ended up not being necessary, he said.

Besides hearing the engineering report on the ditch project, county commissioners needed to determine whether or not the contract for repair of the ditch system had been completed according to approved plans.

“It’s a pretty limited hearing in terms of scope,” attorney Kale Van Bruggen explained to commissioners.

Van Bruggen said commissioners would hear the engineer’s report on the ditch project, and review adjustments to temporary damages caused by the project.

The CD 14 repair project made updates to the drainage ditch that included replacing drainage tile lines that were in disrepair, and building water retention structures. Drainage needs during wet weather last year meant some changes to the original project. A segment of repaired drainage tile had to be moved away from the original tile line, which involved deeper excavation than originally planned.

In the engineer’s report, Bengtson said, “Our subtotal for the project was $1,331,922.94. You can see our repair report subtotal (estimate) was $1,329,816. Those two numbers are only about $2,000 difference.”

The total estimated cost for the project was about $1.53 million, while the actual final cost was about $1.33 million. Bengtson said about $204,000 in contingency funds from the estimate ended up not being needed.

The final cost breakdown included about $939,000 in construction costs, an additional $17,000 for a road raise at the upstream end of the project, and about $258,000 in engineering costs.

The final costs also included about $22,600 in temporary crop damages, $9,690 for permanent easement damages for an earthen dam at the downstream end of the project, and about $16,700 in flowage easement damages.

Van Bruggen said commissioners needed to answer six separate questions on the project that were required by state statute. Commissioner Rick Anderson abstained from all six votes, to avoid a conflict of interest.

Commissioners voted that the project had been substantially completed according to contract. They said it had also been completed within the time specified in the contract.

Commissioners found that the project, with its change order, did cause damages that weren’t included in the original project plan. They also found that the areas of additional damage, and additional damage payments had been identified.

Commissioners approved additional damage payments of $600 an acre for temporary crop damages; $8,500 an acre for permanent right of way damages; and a base of $1,500 an acre plus $500 an acre for flowage easement damages.

Commissioners found that there were no special damage claims proven during the hearing.