SANTAQUIN — Construction workers are repairing new homes that were built without a central load-bearing footing.
Builder Fil Askerlund said he and his partner, Steve Yousy, have to take responsibility for the homes in the Orchard Cove subdivision because they failed to check the work of a subcontactor who was supposed to pour the concrete structures.
Some 50 homes, ranging from about $120,000 to $150,000 in value, have been inspected for the defect, but it's likely some of the homes won't require repair, interim building official Lyle Hansen said.
Askerlund lost his chairmanship of the Santaquin city Planning Commission over the problem, and building inspector Randy Spadafora was put on temporary leave. Hansen was brought in to replace him, but Spadafora has since been exonerated, Hansen said.
"It's not a big deal," Askerlund said about losing his Planning Commission chairmanship. "It was more for appearances."
Askerlund's term as chairman is up at the end of this month. Commissioner Martin Green, chairman pro tem, will fill out the remainder of Askerlund's term.
Repairs have started on the first homes, Askerlund said. Construction workers will build a beam and post support cut into the concrete basement floor to beef up the structural soundness of each home. An engineering firm is also working on the problem.
"I have no reason to believe that this is an intentional thing," Hansen said of the error. Spadafora brought the error to the attention of the city, he said. Spadafora couldn't be reached for comment.
"He was given time off while the investigation was being done," City Councilman Kirk Greenhalgh said. Spadafora was not found at fault, Greenhalgh said.
Santaquin, like many cities, failed to require an inspection of the footing, called a shovel footing. The footing, which is in the floor of the basement, supports a bearing wall that in turn supports much of the home. Sometimes the concrete footing is poured with the basement perimeter walls. If not, then the floor is shoveled out and the footing poured later, hence the name. The load-bearing wall sits on top of the footing.
As a result of the problem , shovel footings won't be allowed in Santaquin in the future, Askerlund said. Other homes built over the years could also lack the center support footings, he said. "There's no telling how many."
Meanwhile, Mayor LaDue Scovill refused to identify the builders or the engineering company hired to help correct the problems.
"I'm not going to point any fingers at the contractors in this town," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's all water under the bridge. . . . The problem has been identified, the homes have been identified, and a solution acceptable to construction standards (has been established)."
Nor would he confirm or deny that Askerlund had anything to do with the problem, which was discussed in a closed door City Council session.
"It a personnel matter," Scovill said. Personnel matters are one of the few subjects that can be discussed privately by public bodies.
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