Beacon & Strathmore Alley Maintenance
Donation protected
Hi everyone, I wanted to provide an update from Wind River Environmental and on the money we collected.
About the catch basin:
- It is not a catch basin after all (no pipe was found.) This means that it is a leechpit. The water just eventually dissipates into the ground.
- Wind River drained the pit so it should perform better when it rains, however, the 5-year maintenance cadence was based on the assumption that the leechpit is a catch basin. We will have to see how it holds up.
- The situation is exacerbated by the tree nearby and by the potholes , which deposits gravel into the pit when cars and trucks drive over it.
- The engineer recommends two solutions:
1. Run a pipe from this leechpit to the catch basins that exist closer to Strathmore Rd. There are 3 of them and they are newer and have pipes. It would be great to connect to them, but it may not even be possible due to the pitch of the alley, etc.
Or
2. Build a few more leechpits near the current one to take up the slack.
About the funds we collected:
- Thanks to all who contributed, we collected $2875.
- Here’s the accounting:
$1815 to Wind River (the cost of their service was reduced by $900 due to the fact that the water had dissipated before they came and did not need to be removed.)
$66.68 fees to GoFundMe
$993.32 is the balance!!
About the next steps:
- I’ve contacted a Brookline attorney. She estimates that it would cost ~$500 to set up an association and escrow account, where we can deposit excess funds.
- I’ve also contacted Rodenhiser Excavating to see if they will estimate both solutions above.
- We will ask the town to fill in the potholes around the leechpit (to aid in its maintenance – they may just do it.)
- If not, we will use the excess contributions to cover that cost.
- If there’s anything leftover, we will hold on to it for further maintenance. I’ll let you know.
Thanks again and happy holidays.
Regards,
Felice
About the catch basin:
- It is not a catch basin after all (no pipe was found.) This means that it is a leechpit. The water just eventually dissipates into the ground.
- Wind River drained the pit so it should perform better when it rains, however, the 5-year maintenance cadence was based on the assumption that the leechpit is a catch basin. We will have to see how it holds up.
- The situation is exacerbated by the tree nearby and by the potholes , which deposits gravel into the pit when cars and trucks drive over it.
- The engineer recommends two solutions:
1. Run a pipe from this leechpit to the catch basins that exist closer to Strathmore Rd. There are 3 of them and they are newer and have pipes. It would be great to connect to them, but it may not even be possible due to the pitch of the alley, etc.
Or
2. Build a few more leechpits near the current one to take up the slack.
About the funds we collected:
- Thanks to all who contributed, we collected $2875.
- Here’s the accounting:
$1815 to Wind River (the cost of their service was reduced by $900 due to the fact that the water had dissipated before they came and did not need to be removed.)
$66.68 fees to GoFundMe
$993.32 is the balance!!
About the next steps:
- I’ve contacted a Brookline attorney. She estimates that it would cost ~$500 to set up an association and escrow account, where we can deposit excess funds.
- I’ve also contacted Rodenhiser Excavating to see if they will estimate both solutions above.
- We will ask the town to fill in the potholes around the leechpit (to aid in its maintenance – they may just do it.)
- If not, we will use the excess contributions to cover that cost.
- If there’s anything leftover, we will hold on to it for further maintenance. I’ll let you know.
Thanks again and happy holidays.
Regards,
Felice
Organizer
Felice Soorenko
Organizer
Brookline, MA