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05/12/07, 04:36 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Western WA
Posts: 4,729
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Putting in a driveway? Hope your luck is better then this guy
Quote:
Published: Saturday, May 5, 2007
Man on hook for sinking excavator
Rented rig is stuck in muck of Ebey Island
By David Chircop
Herald Writer
It's one of the most visible foul-ups in Snohomish County. That is, except for the fact that it's sinking a couple of inches every day.
Jim Clemetson, 48, of Everett, was attempting to cut a driveway last month to his mother's property on Ebey Island, just north of the U.S. 2 trestle.
That plan was bogged down when a 20-metric ton excavator that he rented got stuck in the mud.
"It's quite a freaking mess," Clemetson said. "I've had nothing but troubles lately."
He says he paid a contractor to pull the excavator out of the mud, but, after a week of trying, the yellow 2006 John Deere 200 fell on its side and filled with sludge.
A man working with the contractor inside the excavator narrowly escaped injury, he said.
Clemetson said he fears the equipment rental company will hold him responsible for the $140,000 to $200,000 machine.
The state Department of Ecology is also demanding something be done.
Department of Ecology spokesman Larry Altose said the fuel was drained from the excavator before it tipped, and it does not appear as though hydraulic fluid, oil or contaminants from the machine are leaking into the water.
Clemetson said he wanted to use the property to store native trees that he digs up and sells to landscapers and nurseries.
He said he decided to cut the driveway only after learning that he had no access to his family's 4.5-acre parcel, which was recently purchased for $65,000.
Ellen Steck, vice president of marketing for RSC Equipment Rental in Scottsdale, Ariz., said the company is still figuring out how it will reclaim the equipment.
The Clemetsons' land is flanked by protected wetlands and private land, whose owner is demanding money and legal protection for Clemetson to enter.
"All of us at RSC take this situation very seriously and we will provide any needed information to authorities," she said, reading from a prepared statement.
The sight is prompting truckers to crook their necks as they drive along the elevated highway east of Everett.
"It seems to be sinking a few inches every day," said Rudy Horak, who drives a cement truck for Rinker Materials across the span about five times a week.
Horak was so curious that after work, he hiked down for a closer look at the submerged excavator.
He said he ran into the brother of another trucker who was doing the same thing.
Bruce King, Clemetson's neighbor, who allowed him to drive the excavator across his land, said he gets about two visitors a day asking about the equipment.
He said on Thursday a group of about 30 people hiked through the foul-smelling muck and downed brush to look.
Government officials, tow companies, even people from competing rental companies have stopped by.
King, who runs a small poultry and bee farm off 55th Avenue SE, said he feels sympathy for Clemetson, and hopes insurance will cover any remaining expenses.
He said he extended an offer to RSC Equipment Rental to reach the landlocked site: pay him $4,000 and let Clemetson off the hook, or pay him $20,000 and continue to pursue him.
King said Clemetson was wronged when he was sold inaccessible land, and wronged again when he paid a contractor for a job that wasn't finished. Now he could be on the hook with a big expense.
"This would be the third time he's been screwed," he said.
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http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/05/stuck03.cfm
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05/12/07, 04:54 PM
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construction and Garden b
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: east ont canada
Posts: 7,380
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__________________
àigeach carnaid
chaora dhubh
" Don't raise your voice, improve your argument."
cruachan 
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05/12/07, 05:11 PM
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If I need a Shelter
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ozarks
Posts: 17,695
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ford major
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 Yea that would work!  Or maybe if we hook on to this Then pull with this,until this gives.
No forget it it won't work 
Maybe if I bring some Beer a Log Chain and my Pickup 
Sure looks like a MANS JOB!!!
big rockpile
__________________
I love being married.Its so great to find that one person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.
If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock! 
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05/12/07, 05:33 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,722
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A steel net, inflatable balloons, and some scuba divers? Float that baby up and then ??? NEXT... LOL
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05/12/07, 06:45 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bartow County, GA
Posts: 6,779
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Isn't there some TV show (satelite) that moves BIG rigs outa' wierd places?? 
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05/12/07, 10:22 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,795
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oh my.....as I read it I didnt expect it to be quite so submerged....just very stuck!!!!!
Rachel
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If at first you dont succeed.....click undo
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05/13/07, 03:01 AM
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Dutch Highlands Farm
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Along the Stillaquamish, Washington
Posts: 1,642
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I saw this the other day driving into town and wondered what had happened. I feel for the guy.
__________________
If angels existed, they'd probably be considered big game. (Don Swain)
Home schooling.........not just for scary religious people anymore. Buffy
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05/13/07, 09:29 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carthage, Texas
Posts: 12,261
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IMHO, this guy has made lots of mistakes, and keeps on making more and more.
He buys land without access.
He rents a trackhoe.
He tries to build a road across a wetland (swamp muck).
He sinks said backhoe.
I wonder what the state and federal authorities are going to say... hard to imagine them giving a permit for doing what he apparently tried to do.
I don't blame the neighbor for not giving access.... he might've known the person previously and didn't want a "I'll Do It My Way, Regardless of How Stupid or Illegal it Is" type of guy.
__________________
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming
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05/13/07, 09:50 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,332
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"By signing here, you agree to waive the rental insurance and avoid the extra $10 charge."
"Sounds good, I don't need the insurance for a few hours work."
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05/13/07, 12:45 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: deep south texas
Posts: 5,067
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So does that mean he nedds MEGA -MOVERS to come there. And I Do pay for the insurance myself. Never know when theres damage by the last person. You might get hung to pay...
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05/13/07, 02:12 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: IL, right smack dab in the middle
Posts: 6,787
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When I was a kid on Fort Rich just outside Anchorage Alaska they brought in a crane to put in pilings for a new entrance.It just happened to be in the middle of our faverite swamp with a pond with a island in it. The rig setup was on the island on wooden beams they worked it some the first day . All us kids were trying to figger out how to monkey wrench it. The second day when we got outa school it was sunk over the tracks and nearly to the door. The third day when we got there after school they had 2 dozers and a trachoe trying to get it out it was over the windows then. The next day was saterday morning and and we played on the boom that was now sticking out of the poind like a channely marker sunday we did to but there wasnt much left . Monday after school the crane and the construction crew was gone we always wondered if they got it out or left it in.
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07/04/07, 02:39 PM
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Dutch Highlands Farm
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Along the Stillaquamish, Washington
Posts: 1,642
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This story just got worse, see the red one in the background?
http://heraldnet.com/article/20070703/NEWS01/707030329
__________________
If angels existed, they'd probably be considered big game. (Don Swain)
Home schooling.........not just for scary religious people anymore. Buffy
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07/04/07, 05:38 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Western WA
Posts: 4,729
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Wow, what a mess. I wonder if a big military helo has the weight capacity and could generate enough force to pull those things straight up?
Trying to drag those things across that swamp from dry ground may be impossible.
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07/04/07, 06:28 PM
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Don't Tase me, bro!?!
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: GA
Posts: 1,358
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Christiaan
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I use my front end loader to get my tractor out of a mess. I don't think that's gonna work here. Poor guy.
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Dahc.
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07/04/07, 09:37 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 799
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Mr Clemetson did not get screwed when he purchased landlocked property. The fact that the property was landlocked was probably made known to him prior to the sale. I can't imagine a progressive state such as Washington not having some sort of disclosure law on the books regarding landlocked property.
Even if there were no disclosure law on the books, the access should have been checked out.
Access is the very first thing people should check out when they are considering a purchase of vacant property.
Neighboring property owners are under no obligation to provide access or otherwise provide babysitting duties to know it alls that stumble badly.
Attempting to construct a road across a swamp, probably illegally, shows this guy to be an idiot. And not a real bright one at that.
The rental company has every right to demand full payment for all damages to its equipment, as well as fees for loss of use.
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07/04/07, 09:48 PM
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CF, Classroom & Books Mod
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 9,936
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Norman
"By signing here, you agree to waive the rental insurance and avoid the extra $10 charge."
"Sounds good, I don't need the insurance for a few hours work."
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Would this equipment even be USABLE again? I mean, if it's SUBMERGED one would expect damage just from the water, mud, silt, whatever? At the very least, I'm sure he's going to have a huge bill for the "rescue op", no matter how they decide to do that. I don't know that the rental company would be able to salvage it after it was out or not?
Sure hope he got the "full" insurance 
__________________
Ignorance is the true enemy.
I've seen the village, and I don't want it raising my children.
www.newcenturyhomestead.com
Last edited by Tracy Rimmer; 07/04/07 at 09:53 PM.
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07/05/07, 10:48 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carthage, Texas
Posts: 12,261
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Glad he didn't live near me...
If I remember correctly, he was having some problems with a neighbor... and was trying to access property he didn't have access to...
I've got no sympathy for silly people... I hope he has lots of assets to cover his mistakes.
My dear old pappy told me... 'when you turn 18, you don't get whuppins no more, you get bills'. A lot of times in my life I'd'a much rather had a whuppin than some of the bills.
__________________
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming
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07/05/07, 11:30 AM
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Just howling at the moon
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 5,530
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07/05/07, 01:57 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Posts: 4,290
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I guess a shovel and a rope and come-a-long are probably not gonna work.
Go hire about 40 of them illegals that will do work that Americans wont do and let them dig it out. Need to keep them busy or else they might go home...
.
__________________
If your presence can't add value to my life your absence will make no difference...
玉
(名)三位一體; 三個一組; 三人一組
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07/06/07, 02:13 AM
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Dutch Highlands Farm
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Along the Stillaquamish, Washington
Posts: 1,642
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Ok, lets not be too hard on these guys. The property was bought by the guys mother, she's the one who didn't do all her homework. The transportation dept said they couldn't build an access road under the raised roadway. The road is called the Hewitt Trestle and consists of two raised roadways that go over Ebey Island which is a delta island. The neighbor to the property gave him permission to build access across his property, no hassles with the neighbor at all.
Rental company sold the equipment to the salvager, so I doubt that they can press a claim against him.
The salvager, who has experience with these things, underestimated the instability of the soil and tipped his excavator off of the wooden pad and into the mud pit. We're waiting for his next move.
The main mistake that both guys made was to not have an analysis done by a soil engineer to see if what they wanted to do could be done. I think they skipped the engineering because they didn't realize the island is a delta island and thus very unstable.
__________________
If angels existed, they'd probably be considered big game. (Don Swain)
Home schooling.........not just for scary religious people anymore. Buffy
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