Watertown Charter Township

Minutes of Board of Trustees Special Meeting

July 11, 2008

8:00 A.M.

Call to order:  The meeting was called to order at 8:04 A.M.

Board Members Present:  Supervisor Adams, Clerk Husby, Treasurer Thelen, and Trustees Weitzel, Mitchell, Maahs, and Zay.   Staff present: Tubbs

New Business:

1. Sinkhole in the parking lot.  Tubbs explained that a sinkhole appeared about a week and a half ago.  There used to be a basement in the old school building that stood where the parking lot is now.  There is another sinkhole starting.  One suggestion was to have the fire department run water into the hole to see how much more settling occurs.  The parking lot is bad because it is constantly shifting with the sediment. 

Recessed the meeting at 8:06 a.m.  - to the parking lot to view the existing hole.

Board meeting reconvened at 8:15 P.M. 

Tubbs reviewed the plans for the old building.  The plans don’t show the well location nor if there was a full basement.     

Options:  Have the fire department in to blow water in and settle it all. 

Mike Smith came in to look at it and he would remove the asphalt , fill in the area and then pave.  He estimated around $50,000.00.

Cadwell Bros. Construction would open some test holes to assess the extent of the settling first.   

Tubbs proposed that the Board authorizes funds up to a dollar amount for the test holes and then she will be able to bring back information at the next Board meeting. 

The engineer suggested that the lot be opened up and that the well be moved also.   Zay expressed concern that water is accumulating under the pavement.    Thelen mentioned her concern that the well head is leaking and causing the sink holes. 

Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen to authorize the township manager to review the emergency repairs and options and to work with the engineers to correct a sinkhole problem in the parking with preliminary expenses not to exceed $5,000.00.  Motion passed

Tubbs will call Cadwell Bros. today to get started.  Maahs suggested that a grid of test holes be done to make sure the problem is not widespread.

Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 a.m.

Date approved: ________________                            _____________________________

                                                                                    Deb Adams, Supervisor

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Jean Husby, Clerk