Plans to fix Budge Drive slide take a step forward

Leadership for the Town of Jackson have announced that they have taken an important step in stabilizing the Budge Drive hillside through an agreement with the Budge Family. This agreement provides for a sale of the property to the Town of Jackson and full and final settlement of any and all issues, claims, or causes of action that exist or might exist between the parties. The parties to this agreement include the Town of Jackson, Sara and Jeremy Budge, Allen and Sharlene Budge and the Walgreen Co. The Town wishes to thank the Budge Family for their efforts to resolve this matter.

The terms of the agreement include the Town purchasing the Budge properties at 1025 and 1045 Budge Drive for $250,000. The purchase includes the gravel located thereon for use in a shear key/buttress remediation of the Hillside Landslide, and an access and drainage easement to the Town on 1040 Budge Drive. The Local Governmental Liability Pool (LGLP) and Walgreens have agreed to contribute additional funds as a cost of avoiding litigation. A separate settlement agreement and release of claims has been executed by the parties, which includes a provision that no party admits any fault or liability.

Mayor Sara Flitner stated, “Our main goal has been, and continues to be remediating the slide to avoid any future movement of the hillside and the resulting impacts to residents and the community. This agreement is an important step in moving forward with the identified remediation. On behalf of the Jackson Town Council, I would like to thank Sara, Jeremy, Allen and Sharlene Budge and Walgreens for their continued efforts to work with us to accomplish this collective resolution for the health, safety and welfare of the public.”

The Budge Drive landslide remediation work consists constructing a shear key/buttress at the toe of the slope and the unloading of a portion of the hill. This work is expected to cost approximately $10 million.

The Town is continuing to work with the Hillside Partners to reach the necessary agreements to construct shear key and the buttress to stabilize the hill. The Town also wishes to thank the Hillside Partners for their cooperation in allowing the stockpiling of the temporary buttress on the Sidewinders property. The Town is also continuing to seek the funding necessary to do this remediation work.