Sometimes asking questions will surprise you. What is on your property is good information to have. But do you know what is underneath your property?
For some time I have wanted to stop by City Hall and ask a few questions concerning a conversation I had with the previous owner about a well and a septic tank. I have been putting it off for a while now and today while I was out I figured this would be the best time to ask.
The zoning office did not have any record on file of a well or septic tank. I was told that the house did have them and was converted from well to city water and city sewer when the city expanded their boundaries. Alas, they could not provide me with any information about that.
Sometimes I feel I ask questions only to be disappointed at hearing the answers.
The city official did show me the city's GIS map and guess what it showed us? A sewer main that stretches diagonally across the farm!!!! WHAT THE HECK!?! I thought I lived on a farm? I do I do live on a farm and to the right of me is 156 acres of pasture. I would have thought for sure there would not be anything underneath. Well I am here to say that I was wrong.
Well the city official informed me that I have not one, but THREE manhole covers on my property! How did I miss those? I am in the back of the property enough to know what is there and what is not. I know I am not blind or losing my mind. So as soon as I got home it was off to find the three manhole covers.
Enjoy the video.
So now I have an Unsolved Mystery going on and either a) I have the city's public works come out to find it or b) I get a metal detector and see if I can find the covers myself. I would really hate to hit a manhole cover with the mower blades or the plow!
So from this experience, if you are going to buy a piece of property close to or near the city limits, talk to city hall or even see if the county as any information that is available if there are any utilities underground.
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG
If you are just starting out like I am, it would not hurt to set up an appointment with Call Before You Dig! Their national website is Call811. If you happen to live in Missouri, the website is Missouri One Call System. All you do is request to have electrical, cable, gas, water, sewer lines to be marked. I did this in the front of the farm near the house just for general knowledge and piece of mind. Other resources can be your neighbors and if possible the previous owners and the owners before them, etc., etc.
So that is it. Our little surprise/unsolved mystery.
As always, have a great and blessed day and continue to help each other grow in knowledge.
Kenny
Pfeiler Family Farm
