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Billings residents hear about cleanup plans for Laredo Place rock slide

Posted at 10:42 PM, Sep 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-27 16:19:34-04

BILLINGS — It may take about a month before crews can start the massive removal of rocks on Laredo Place just beneath the Rims, after the slide on Saturday morning.

Billings City Administrator Chris Kukulski gave neighbors an update from engineers on Thursday night.

Contractor Terracon gave Kukulski some recommendations and information.

Six neighbors, along with one on the phone, met with Kukulski next door to the home that was hit by the boulder.

There is concern with where the rock was on the Rims and the recommendation is to pin the rock that is left with bolts.

"That one spot that didn't come down looks very precarious with the roots sticking out behind it and the air gap," said Dave Sutton, who lives with his wife on Laredo Place. "Everything, and so that's what the concern is and what we're trying to address right now."

"A lot of attention has been, do we need to have a greater concern about what's left up there with this particular slide that we should be doing something different than elsewhere," Kukulski said.

Kukulski said rocks that are on the slope are secure.

When the work gets started, the plan is to put vibration monitors around the foundation to keep from damaging the homes.

Laredo Place residents said they appreciate these meetings with the city.

"It's very comforting," said Davie Sutton. "They're invested. They're very polite and respectful and seem like they're all just right on top of it."

Kukulski plans on meeting regularly with the neighbors on Laredo.

He talked about several dates for plans and bids and said crews may start working around Oct. 22.