DPW Cleanup Cost Rises $187,000

BROOKSVILLE - The price tag for cleaning up the contaminated former public works compound in downtown Brooksville went up $187,000 Tuesday when county commissioners approved another change order from its consultant.

This was the 10th cost increase request from Creative Environmental Solutions, which has now been paid more than $1.7 million for its work. The last change order was in November 2007.

This latest cost increase will cover the cost of additional soil and water testing at the site at 201 West Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Creative has spent the last several months assessing the scope of the contamination, which the state requires before moving to the remedial stage of the cleanup.

The state set a deadline of Dec. 31 for completion of that site assessment report.

The county met the deadline but determined that more testing was needed.

"Despite a concerted effort by our consultant, the report that we submitted ... indicated that additional sampling and testing is required before site assessment can be considered to be complete," Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton said.