BILLINGS — Billings City Administrator Chris Kukulski met Tuesday with neighbors who live on Laredo Place Monday to share information about where the rock-removal process stands.
Kukulski said nothing has changed from the assessment of the environmental engineering firm, Terracon, of the fall. The pile of rocks at the bottom of the Rims is still stable, Kukulski said.
Terracon made the recommendation to the city to pin a rock left attached to the Rims after the fall. Pinning the rock would prevent it from falling in the future and causing more damage to homes below. Kukulski said the city has asked Terracon why it is recommending that method.
Because of the fall, Kukulski said he will ask the Billings City Council to approve an emergency ordinance at its Oct. 15 meeting. If approved, this would allow city staff to make certain decision about contractor bidding without council approval.
If all goes as scheduled, Kukulski said the specifications of the rock-removal job will be ready to advertise on Friday. Kukulski expects the bids to be received by Oct. 18 and awarded on Oct 22. After that, work to remove the rocks scattered about Laredo Place can begin.
Part of the Rims above the rock fall is private property. To pin the remaining chunk of rock, crews would have to pass through that property. Kukulski said the city has asked the property owner's permission to move through the property, and the property owner agreed.
The city still has questions about how far its property on the Rims extends.
