BLACK HAWK, S.D. – The Northdale Sanitary District Council has given the okay for drilling to occur within the area of the Hideaway Hills subdivision where a sinkhole opened up and revealed an old gypsum mine hiding below.
The discovery led to the evacuation of several homes.
It’s the latest development regarding a class action lawsuit filed by the subdivision’s residents against the state.
Core sampling that had begun within the development was halted earlier when the council had concerns about drilling in the road.
On Tuesday, a firm representing the subdivision’s residents, brought a new drilling plan before the council, which was approved.
Kathleen Barrow of Fox Rothschild LLP, says the drilling is the only way to determine what is going on with the mine.
The firm hopes the core sampling will solidify their evidence when they present their next motion to the courts within the next month.
That motion – to certify the lawsuit as class action – requires lawyers to prove the homeowners have a common claim before it can move forward.
Attorneys representing the homeowners say supervised drilling will be scheduled in two weeks.
Results are expected in a month.
