City to monitor vibrations from downtown construction this summer

The city of Mt. Pleasant will be using a vibrating monitoring system in downtown historical buildings this summer during scheduled construction on the east and north sides of the square and North Main Street.

During summer 2018 construction on Jefferson Street road and sidewalk, the city was required to have vibration monitoring systems. While it is not required this year, it was recommended by the city's insurance company, which the city council approved during a regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

'If you've ever had your street done in front of your house, it feels like you're being shaken to pieces. Last year, we didn't have any problems,” city administrator Brent Schleisman said.

Summer 2019 construction on the east and north sides of the square and North Main Street includes construction of pavement and sidewalk replacements on Main Street and Monroe Street and replacement of underground water mains, storm sewer intakes and piping.

The vibration monitoring system will be placed inside buildings on the historic preservation list to monitor the vibration of the buildings during construction. Eleven buildings will be monitored.

The council approved hiring Terracon Consultants Inc. to provide observation and testing services, which also did the observation and testing for the Jefferson Street project.

Terracon will take pictures of the buildings, look at existing cracks and document everything with pictures before construction. Afterward, they will repeat the process and see if anything has changed, Mayor Steve Brimhall said.

The total estimated cost for Terracon's services is $38,976.

City counselor Kent White said that the city's insurance advised them that if there was any litigation for perceived damage to buildings after construction, it would be more expensive for the city than if they just hired Terracon.

Following the city council meeting, the city counselors and employees joined the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department for a pizza party.

Brimhall said the pizza party is an effort to get to know them better and for the firefighters to get to know the city counselors and employees better.

Brimhall is planning a pizza party with the Mt. Pleasant Police Department in the next couple of months and other city departments later this year.

'Hopefully, we may do this annually,” Brimhall said.

The next Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.