Potential sabotage delays Mt. Pleasant water well drilling

A possible sabotage of drilling equipment has delayed a major well-drilling project in Mt. Pleasant.

The Board of Trustees of Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities met in special session on Monday, Feb. 28. Jack Hedgecock, General Manager at Mt. Pleasant Utilities, updated the Board on the Cedar Lane Well No. 7 and Water Distribution System Project associated with Bid Package No. 1 — Well Drilling.

Due to the drill rod and bit assembly being permanently stuck in the bore hole and irretrievable, it will be necessary for Cahoy Pump Service, Inc. to abandon the previous site and move the well drilling to a new site approximately 58 feet and start the drilling process over.

“Cahoy has asked that the drilling be extended until July 31 of 2022,” said Hedgecock, “Due to unforeseen obstacles that they have encountered at the well site, including potential sabotage of the initial well hole that they have been working on.”

The circumstances surrounding this event has been deemed suspicious in nature and the incident is currently under investigation by local authorities.

The vote from the board to extend drilling procedures was unanimous. That is one step in the process of getting the project back on track.

“The other step is that the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has got to approve the projected change in the location of the well head,” said Hedgecock. “We should receive that approval soon, and Cahoy is moving forward on getting the site prepared to move the well head.”

One of the stipulations that was requested by the Utilities was for Cahoy to focus on site security. There will be a eight-foot tall barrier fence that will be built at the site. There also will be security cameras on the site as well as 24/7 drilling taking place.

The well head is going to be moved 58 feet to the west of the existing site. This means that there will be new approvals through Iowa DNR before the project can officially restart drilling.

“The scope of the project will remain the same, along with the specifics of the project,” said Hedgecock. “We just have to move and start over with the drilling. They are going to fill in one hole and abandon it, and then get started on completing the other hole. This change will be at no cost to the Utilities.”

Contact Michelle Hillestad at michelle.hillestad@southeastiowaunion.com