Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Tekoa Mudslide
A blown end-cap from a water main at the Tekoa School District administration building caused a mudslide early Sunday morning. Water from the main cut a trench through an embankment, sending a wall of dirt into the city pool located downhill from the building.
It broke through two building-block retaining walls and a chain-link fence, knocking down a pool light pole.
Tekoa school Maintenance Supervisor Scott Pruitt and engineers from their insurance provider, Clear Risk Management Group, Monday further assessed the damage, which was determined to stem from the blown end-cap under the district building, a portable structure installed in 1995 behind the high school.
Cause for the blown end cap is unknown, but weather is not thought to be a factor.
Wet insulation remains in the crawl space, while the building’s damage was minimal.
“Structurally it’s pretty sound,” said Tekoa Superintendent Connie Kliewer.
Balfour Company of Spokane arrived Tuesday to dry out the crawlspace, stabilize the building’s northwest corner and perform plumbing work.
The administration building houses the district offices, a board conference room and two classrooms.
Preschool was canceled for this week and the high school class moved to the library.
The swimming pool is run by the Tekoa Parks and Recreation District.
“We didn’t see any physical damage to the pool per se,” said Fred Wagner, a newly elected parks board member.
Clean-up plans are yet to come.
“I’d guess there’s a truckload of dirt in the bottom of the pool,” said Wagner.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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