Wednesday, September 26, 1984
At least two business owners are worried about the blasting being done in downtown Union, but officials say the worst part of the blasting is over with.
Workers for Unnerstall Contracting Co., Pacific, recently have been blasting a trench near city hall for installation of a new sanitary-sewer trunk line. At least one business owner says the explosions damaged his building, and the owner of three other buildings is concered that further blasting might cause damage for him, too.
Don Wilmesher, owner of Don’s Auto Repair, told The Missourian that blasting last week Monday forced his west concrete wall inward at least half an inch, cracking the foundation so that more rain than usual now is able to enter the building. He said that a window on the east face of the building was broken by the blasting.
Wilmesher, who said he once worked for a blasting compnay, complained that the work near his property was not being done properly. He said he had complained to contractor Steve Unnerstall and to City Administrator Bruce Decker, but was still. unhappy with how the blasting is being done. He said he has employed an attorney on the matter.
Ralph Oltmann, who owns three buildings on Church street, said he will insist that Unnerstall use seismographs to measure th strength of explosions if more blasting his done near his buildings. Even though the contractor’s insurance company would probably pay for any damage, Oltmann would “just rather not have the damage,” he said. “The thing is, if you get a buidling (damaged by blasting), it may not be noticeable for ten years.” he said.,
The were rumors that the wall of another building in the area had been cracked by the explosions.
The controversial blasting has been for a trench that runs westward up Springfield avenue to an alley midway between Linden street and Church street. The trench follows the alley south to Hicory street and will, from there, proceed west in a zigzag fashion.
According to Unnerstall, the amount of rock he had to blast through in that area was greater than at any other portion of the sewer route so far, and probably the deepest he will encounter on the project. Consequently, the blasting there has been more powerful than at other places along the sewer route, he said.
An added complication there has been that the area has two layers of stone separated by a layer of dirt, according to Charles Lawrence, resident manager on the sewer project. The layer of mud allows the force of explosions to travel outwards rather than being confined to the trench area, he said.
Unnerstall said he understand the concern people have about their buildings being damaged. He said anyone with a legitimate complaint of damage from blasting would be recompensed by his insurance company.
Since the recent complaints, Unnerstall’s workers have begun blasting only four drilled-holes at a time, rather than about 18 at a time, as earlier. Also, he will begin using “mats” above his explosives because of complaints that debris was being thrown into the air, a charge he denies. Unnerstall said mats will not be used on blasting beneath streets, since the existing asphalt acts as a mat.
The contractor said he also is having his men drill their holes closer together, a method that helps control the explosions but is more costly to him, forming a wider trench and requiring a greater amount of fill.
Unnerstall said also that he would begin using a seismograph and surveying buildings along the route prior to blasting. He doesn’t expect to damage nay buildings, but will take the measures “to protect myself.”
Unnerstall said the blasting in the area of Wilmesher’s and Oltmann’s buildings is almost completed.
Explosions in that area ruptured a sewer pipe Monday and on other occasions broke a water main and two water-service lines, according to Decker. Previous blasting in other areas also resulted in damage to existing sewer lines, Decker confirmed. A certain amount of such damage is inevitable, Decker said.
Captions:
Explosive Situation — Property owners have complained abouit damage and potential damage to buildings near the blasting being done for a section of Union’s new sewer trunk line. The trench is said to run through especially deep rock as it goes west up Springfield avenue (pictured) and veers left where workers are standing to follow an alley souith, passing near several buildings.