District engineer recommends added blanket drains for Wasatch wall; board to meet with contractor, accountability unresolved

Provo City School District officials reported a draft report from independent engineering firm Langan recommending additional blanket drains and ongoing monitoring on the Wasatch retaining wall and said a follow-up meeting with the contractor, the wall designer and the independent engineer will be scheduled. Business Administrator Devin Daley said the draft report, received on Monday, recommends increasing the size of a blanket drain behind the wall and increasing monitoring with piezometers and inclinometers to track groundwater and movement. “They did recommend increasing the amount of space with the blanket drain...the biggest portion of what will be added is a drain behind the wall,” Daley said. He said the district hopes to begin work and get the wall back in place before inclement weather. Board members asked technical and financial questions. Board member Lisa Boyce pressed whether the testing found compaction issues in the soil; Daley said some soil borings showed “a little bit more and significantly more in some areas” of fine material, which is one reason for the expanded blanket drain and why additional study by IGES and discussion with the engineering team will occur. Daley said that the engineering firm and contractor will attend the planned meeting to answer questions about compaction remediation. Board members said they expect accountability on cost. “We do not want to pay for something that is not our fault,” Board President Jennifer Partridge said; Boyce added she does not believe the district should bear financial responsibility but said the ultimate allocation will be decided after the multi‑party meeting. No formal vote was taken; the board directed staff to convene the engineer, designer and contractor to finalize a long-term solution, scope and schedule and to keep board members informed. Daley said the district will include interested board members in the meeting and update the public after it occurs. Why it matters: The Wasatch wall supports school property and public safety access; the engineering recommendations and the question of who bears repair costs have potential fiscal and timeline implications for the district and taxpayers.