OCR Text |
Show Prairie dog burrow causes lagoon failure The Utah Army Corp of Engineers has determined that the collapse of a sewer lagoon dike which delayed testing of the lagoon since last Fall was caused by a hole burrowing animal possibly a prairie dog. The engineers were called in after the dike between sewer lagoon ponds number three and four collasped last fall causing a shutdown of tbe Ashley Valley Sewer System. Since that time valley residents have been using Vernal Ver-nal City's sewage system while the problem with the lagoon system southeast of Vernal was check out. Douglas Lawson, Ashley Valley Sewer chairman, said the incident leading to the collapse was an isolated case, "but it is better than the $1 to $3 million repair job" predicted before the discovery of the prairie dog hole. Lawson said lagoon pond number one began filling Tuesday morning and the testing process required before the system goes on line wul continue. con-tinue. The dike will be repaired at minimal cost. Another rock in the shoe of the Sewer Board is the continuing law suits between the board and the initial contractor on the sewer lagoons, Van Stavern. -The contractor claims the board owes him more money, and the board filed counter claims that the contractor hadn't been true to his contract. Lawson said there has been some progress in the suit which may allow it to be settled out of court before its July trial date but nothing is definite. |