 | Arrrrr, matey. Did you know that yesterday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day? Of course you did! Well, it got us thinking about a fella that stops in to our Traverse City office now and again to get beach sand for his RV site.
He goes by the name of Jack Muller (Captain Jack, we presume) and he's never alone… Shadrach, his African Gray Congo Parrot, is perched on his shoulder, greeting everyone hello.
Jack and his wife Brenda got Shadrach six years ago when they were looking for an animal they could interact with. And they sure got what they were looking for! Can your pet do this?...
When Brenda and Jack get ready to go out to dinner, Shadrach will start saying "go for a ride" before they tell him they are leaving. And if his owners go for a walk without him, he'll whistle and say "where you going?"
If the phone rings, the bird says "hello." and he'll say "anybody home?" when he hears someone knock on the door. Sometimes Shadrach makes too much noise while Brenda or Jack are on the phone so they'll tell him to use his inside voice...and he'll start whispering.
He is potty trained by the command "potty" and understands simple phrases like "go night-night" (that's more than lots of parents can say about their own kids!). And he mimics crow sounds, blue jay calls, and finches on their nature walks. Phew, what a guy!
Shadrach is very social and attracts attention everywhere they go. So don't be shy next time you see Jack, Brenda and Shadrach. Be sure to say AHOY!
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Digging deep in a small footprint
 When the Village of Onekama decided it was time to upgrade its wastewater system last year, they found themselves in the confines of a deep dilemma. In order to complete the project, two trenches for sewer lift stations had to be dug in extremely tight site conditions.
Two obstacles caused added difficulty: safety protocol requiring a 45 degree angle of repose in each hole--which meant a minimum 62 ft cross section of open trench--and a system of existing utility lying within the narrow work area, making the open trench option impossible. Onekama hired Team Elmer’s for the job. After careful consideration, we implemented Pro-Tec Equipment’s new Slide Rail Shoring System, which would allow us to execute the job without disturbing the nearby propane tank and electrical box. This system is made up of stackable panels designed to prevent collapse during the excavation process. The panels were 14 ft by 8 ft tall each (and of course, styled to the nines with the Team Elmer’s logo). Completed installation of the panel system created a 14 ft square, 26 ft deep excavation zone in one area and a 23 ft deep site in a second location. The trenches were excavated to place an 8 ft and 7 ft in diameter catch basin as part of the upgraded sewer system.
 Flexible and economical, the system is ideal in poor soil conditions and where soil support is required. Because it can be constructed and removed quickly with a small crew working above ground, it is a less complicated alternative to tight sheeting. Once the Slide Rail Shoring System panels were in place, the sewer improvement project could begin. Team Elmer’s, in coordination with Insituform, installed 17,470 lineal feet of cured in place pipe (CIPP). CIPP is placed by inverting a resin impregnated flexible tube inside the existing sewer line using hydrostatic head and steam pressure. The material cures by circulating hot water inside the form, to produce a hard surface which is tightly formed to the existing pipe. This will eliminate ground water infiltration into the aged sanitary sewer.
 Safe digging practices in a confined construction area were key to the success of this project. Pro-Tec’s revolutionary panels were the missing link between an old wastewater system and a finished job. We were able to remove and replace two sewer lift stations, allow subcontractors to make electrical and control improvements to the second sewer station, and construct a new pivot spray irrigation disposal system and force main. Installation was completed 26 ft below ground in an area only 14 ft square! Way to go Team! Do you have a job that requires a deep dig in tight quarters? Team Elmer's can help!
Click here to view more photos of the Village of Onekama Wastewater project.
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