Contractors building a new fire station off Poplar Way near Lynnwood say Fire District 1 owes them a half-million dollars for unexpected work.

According to a story in the Everett Herald, the prime contractor (Cornerstone Contractors) told fire commissioners the district hasn’t paid them for excavation completed last fall. The company says the district didn’t tell them there was a large pool of underground water at the site, which led to extra work and increased costs. As a result, Cornerstone can’t pay its subcontractors (one says he’s owed $250,000.)

The chairman of the Fire District 1 board told the Herald the dispute is between Cornerstone and its subcontractors. Cornerstone has requested mediation.