(l to r) Tim Stanley, Harris & Associates - Inspector and Consultant, Brian Mosich, Colich & Sons - Project Managerand Dick Edwards with Vermeer California.

To the casual observer, the Vermeer T-755 Rock Trencher may look just like a cold machine. But to the trained eyes of Colich & Sons, it looks as pretty as the "resident" peacocks in Palos Verdes.

The peacocks were brought to this hillside community back in the 1920's by Vanderlip. Vanderlip, a primary land owner in Palos Verdes, was responsible for much of its development. Today they are a thriving group some 800 strong; and are considered as "residents" by many of the "human" residents there.

Colich & Sons is the prime contractor responsible for converting the septic-based systems of Palos Verdes to one of sewer lines. They will install approximately 14,000 linear feet of 8" PVC gravity sewer main line, and 3,000 linear feet of force main. Normally the difficult soil conditions of the areaÑlandslide scarps and rock, mixed with good soilÑwould have spelled out a much more intensive and laborious process than what it actually turned out to be. Their saving grace was the recent purchase of a Vermeer T-755 Rock Trencher.

Brian Mosich, project manager on this job for Colich & Sons, explains the advantages: "We are using the Vermeer trencher to dig our trench for the main line. When we hit rock in some of the bad soil conditions, the trencher just grinds it up into powder. This means we do not have to pay tremendous fees in exporting the material out, and can literally just put it right back into the hole as backfill. Traditionally we would have to use a backhoe and export all of the rocky material to a dump, adding to the overall cost with trucking and disposal fees; not to mention the stress and impact this would put on the residents. Then we would have to import new fill, adding to the time, traffic, and confusion in this private community."

Let's see: less time doing the job; less money for exporting and importing; less material to clog up a dump; less stress on the community. Looks like the Vermeer machine has created a win-win situation for everyoneÑeven the peacocks. Indeed, the four-man crew had a hard time keeping up with the machine, laying some 200 to 300 feet a day. No wonder Brian adds: "I know the residents as well as the city engineer have been impressed with the Vermeer trencher; and our overall efficiency on this job."

Tim Stanley, inspector and consultant of this job for the City of Palos Verdes, intones: "All of the excavation and installed sewer main has to be buttoned up and ready for traffic at the end of each working day. I think the Vermeer has been great for this project."

The overall contract for Colich & Sons was approximately $5.4 million. Colich & Sons is based in Gardena, and have been doing mostly pipeline, sewer, and storm drain work for more than 50 years throughout southern California.

The Peacocks were brought into Palos Verdes back in the 1920's and today live and thrive in this private hillside community.