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Ground penetrating radar shows sinkhole activity stretching 30 feet below ground under a Spring Hill Fire Rescue building.
By JENNIFER FARRELL
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 30, 2001
SPRING HILL -- A sinkhole forming under Spring Hill Fire Rescue's new vehicle maintenance building has caused no structural damage so far, but an engineer's report delivered this week to district commissioners warns of impending trouble, especially if it rains.
Interim Chief J.J. Morrison told commissioners Wednesday night that a ground penetrating radar study performed last week by Brooksville-based All Coast Engineering, Inc., showed sinkhole activity stretching 30 feet below ground.
"At first, it was just a void," Morrison said Thursday. "It's right on the corner of the building, so they haven't been able to tell me if any of that is under the building."
Morrison said the district has followed the firm's preliminary recommendation to fill the hole, which appeared about a month ago at the back of the facility on Bob Hartung Court near a thick, concrete slab driveway.
Morrison said he expects to have results by the end of the week on a drilling study finished Wednesday. The next step, he added, would be to begin underground grout injections to help shore up the ground all around the building.
Morrison estimated grout injections would cost the district between $5,000 and $10,000.
The building, finished last year at a cost of roughly $300,000, has been plagued with problems almost from the beginning.
The district first went out to bid for the project in May 1999, but the low bid came in $120,000 higher than expected. Commissioners then scaled back plans and rebid, accepting a low offer of $210,000.
Construction was expected to begin in early 2000, but delays lasted through the summer as costs mounted. Eventually, the contractor went bankrupt, causing more delays.
Commission Chairman Bob Kanner said Thursday the sinkhole appears to be manageable. "'It's not something I'm going to push under the rug, but I'm not concerned that I'm going to lose the building. There's a way to fix everything."
-- Staff writer Jennifer Farrell covers Spring Hill and can be reached at 848-1432. Send e-mail to farrell@sptimes.com.