Many Moon citizens do not want the Wal-Mart proposed on University Boulevard to turn into another Kilbuck disaster. Moon First is calling on Moon to retain an independent consultant to review the slope stability at the proposed site.

Moon First has checked the geological maps of this site to check its history of landslides. We found that when the shopping center was built, the parking lot and the area behind the shopping center were filled to make the area level.

The map shows that from Flaugherty Run Road (at the trailer park) up the hill to behind the shopping center is classified as landslide prone because it is composed of 150 to 175 feet of material called red bed. The map also shows that long ago there was a landslide one-third of the way down the hill.

Moon First also urges the township to investigate whether coal is located under the shopping center. If so, coal takes in water and tends to swell and would cause instability. We urge the township to check this out.

We are sure that when the most recent survey was done for the school district, it included a map of the area showing the mines and included the Wal-Mart site across the street from the middle school.

This is one reason the school district's consultant said that the middle school building was long overdue (10 years or more) for a wrecking ball.

We recommend the township engineers evaluate this. If it's necessary to hire outside independent consultants to examine this, the cost should be paid by Wal-Mart in accordance with the township's overlay district ordinances.

JOHN AUGUSTINE

Moon

Note: The author is a member of Moon First, a citizens group.