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Site Review Summaries, performed by Eco-Terr President Charles A. Baker:
(also a licensed General Contractor in Washington State)


Initial Site review summary 5/29/07:

Upon arrival to the site, it was evident that weather conditions (specifically rainfall) have been a significant factor relating to the site conditions and the delay of completion.
Specifically, the moisture content in the soil, on and adjacent to the work area, is at a saturation point which makes it difficult (at best), if not impossible, to proceed with the typical grading work required to adequately prepare the site for the StabiliGrid application, or any other finished surface application for that matter. It is apparent to me that this has been a prevalent condition for many weeks, and confirms the communications with the contractors (Mike @ Gateway and Eric @ Focal Point) during this period. And rain is predicted for the next few days.
Although there has been no rain today, there are a few large areas (soft spots) that have made it difficult to establish a uniform leveling layer in preparation for the StabiliGrid installation. These “soft spots” are not recommended beneath the StabiliGrid application, or any finished (traffic) surface, for reasons obvious to you, I am sure. Should there be rain in the next few days, I will be advising the contractors to delay the installation until the soft spot areas are allowed to dry up and stabilize.
It is my understanding that due to the weather and site conditions, a decision was made to add a drainage layer beneath the parking area to facilitate the grading work and deal with the overall adverse affects of the rainfall. Although the advantages to this drainage layer are positive for the overall site condition, it may affect the “green growth application” to the StabiliGrid application. I suggest that you discuss this with your contractors and confirm the final soil/seed application and any watering requirements there may be.
By the end of the work day, the contractors managed to get a good part of the leveling layer rough-graded, with the intention of final grading tomorrow AM, and then beginning the installation of the StabiliGrid. All this is based (of course) on no new significant rainfall. We shall see.
As of 8 am on 5/30/07, it was raining heavily at the site.

Regards,
Charles Baker, President
Eco-Terr Distributing Inc.
425 864-1701


From: Charles Baker
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 6:05 AM
To: Eric Braun, St. Louis County
Cc: Mike at Gateway; Eric Hogan at Focal Pointe
Subject: Tilles Park project site review update 5.29.07

Eric,
As representative of our product StabiliGrid, it is my job to site-supervise and advise on the application of our grid products for your project at Tilles Park.

Site review summary: 5/30/07:
I arrived at the job site about 7am. It was raining lightly, but graduated into moderate rainfall until about 11am. After that, light showers, until sun breaks around 3 pm.
Finish grading of the leveling layer for the StabiliGrid areas continued and was completed about 2:30 pm.
Final grade analysis determined about 6 large area “soft spots”, some with surface water present.
It was determined that the StabiliGrid installation could continue, under the following conditions:
1) That no vehicular traffic is allowed onto the grid installation area, either prior to or after the StabiliGrid application, until the site conditions improved and the soft spots are no longer evident. These “soft spots” were marked with orange paint, and can be seen through the grid cells. Settling could occur, which would require the grid area be disassembled, the leveling layer amended as required, and then the StabiliGrid re-installed. It is recommended that the StabiliGrid cells not be filled until the sub-grade saturation has stabilized.
2) That prior to the soil filling of the StabiliGrid, someone in authority from St. Louis County Parks reviews the site, and approves the grading and contours now prevalent to the grid installation areas.
3) That soil filling/hydro-seeding take place only after mutual agreement and acceptance of the sub-grade condition, by representatives of St Louis County Parks, Gateway Contractors, and Focal Point.
4) That the StabiliGrid installation area is adequately secured from vehicular traffic until such time the area is mutually released to service by St Louis County Parks, Gateway Contractors, and Focal Point.
Lay-out and Installation of the StabiliGrid in the center section began about 2:30 pm, and by 4:30 pm approximately 1200 sq. ft. had been installed.
Plans for tomorrow include the near completion of the center section, as well as the lay-out and beginning of installation on the outer section.
Weather forecast for tomorrow is 60% chance of rain. The amount of rain will determine if, and how much, of the installation will be evident by days end.
I will be leaving the job-site approx. 12 pm tomorrow to begin my return to Seattle. It would be my pleasure to discuss this project with anyone who wishes to do so, prior to 12 pm.

Regards,
Charles Baker, President
Eco-Terr Distributing Inc.
425 864-1701


From: Charles Baker
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:57 PM
Subject: FW: Tilles Park project site review update 5.31.07
Eric,
Site review summary: 5/31/07:
This is my last day of supervision on this project. No rain yet. About 11 am we got our first light shower.
I arrived on the job site about 7:30 am. Focal Point was continuing the installation of the StabiliGrid. By 11:30 am they had installed approx. 5,000 additional sq. ft. and had begun cutting in the perimeter junction to the asphalt. Should heavy rain not get in the way, I am confident In Eric Hogan and his crew, and that all the StabiliGrid will be install by the end of today or tomorrow AM, with only some of the perimeter radius cutting left to be done after Friday. Again, I strongly suggest that the grids are not filled with dirt until the soft spots dry out and stabilize.
I met with you and Dave (from the parks dept.) and discussed in detail the project site conditions and the progressive events that must take place to put this parking area in service. We all agreed (in principle) that the planting of the grass would not be practical for the parks dept. at this time, and would be best served if the planting was done in the fall. You agreed to follow though and get the appropriate approvals for this change in scope, and get with Mike at Gateway and confirm everything we discussed.
We also discussed the future, specifically the recommended maintenance and repair of the StabiliGrid grass areas. Especially the inherent possibility of “sinking” or “slumping” of the complete project area due to the excessive rainfall and saturation levels of the ground, and what the parks dept. would need to do to correct these issues.
All the pictures I took of the project are available for your use at: www.ecoterr.com/for_eric_braun by Monday.
Eric Hogan of Focal Point has agreed to provide additional pictures for the rest of the StabiliGrid installation.
And I will be looking forward to follow up communication from you.
We appreciate your confidence in StabiliGrid, and hope to be included in any future projects requiring pervious roadway, slope, and surface stabilization.

Regards,
Charles Baker, President
Eco-Terr Distributing Inc.
425 864-1701