Posted by: thepinetree on 11/21/2013 08:07 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 11/21/2013 08:12 PM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
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Mountain Ranchers will be relieved to learn that disaster to our Town Hall has been averted.
Mountain Ranch, CA....Mountain Ranchers will be relieved to learn that disaster to our Town Hall has been averted. Since this Hall was built, water drainage (from the roof and the road) has severely threatened the stability of the hall foundation. Every year a sink hole next to the building has expanded where pooling water from Blacksmith Ave has undercut the foundation. Rain from the roof has exacerbated this problem....
Community members have worked to minimize water damage by keeping the creek free of debris, installing rain gutters and downspouts which vent water to the creek and, most recently, guttering the Del Papa patio roof overhang. These remedial efforts helped, but were ineffective until we could overcome the problem caused by the road water run-off.
Calaveras road department supervisor Dennis Siebel was consulted and although agreeing on the need for a road drain, he was not encouraging because the county budget was depleted. “Perhaps next year”, he said.
Supervisor Chris Wright was drafted to our cause. He was able convince Ron Garcia, the department head, to authorize the installation of the drain this year, rather than their having to install the drain and also replace the building foundation in the future..
On Wednesday, November 13, the road crew arrived in Mountain Ranch!!
Over the next 3 days, the crew installed two catch basins connected by a 14” drain pipe starting at the low spot on Blacksmith Ave, running across the road to catch basin #2 in the Lutheran Church parking lot, and thence to the creek. The existing two roof downspouts were routed underground to this drain by community club volunteers.
By Friday, all the roof drain pipes were connected, new asphalt road surfaces and gravel on the church parking area were completed. We will have no more weeds, dirt and rubble to contend with due to the new paving which reaches almost to the building.
We are relieved, thrilled and very thankful that commitment, communication and co-operation have resulted in this long-term solution which will save our Mountain Ranch Town Hall from disaster.
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