The Town of Davis received has been inundated by complaints over the Contractor for the Town’s Sewer Project. Several residents have filed formal complaints over such concerns as flooding, the design of an open ditch, lack of dust control and speeding of heavy equipment through Town.
During the Town’s August 27th Council meeting, Mayor Al Tomson was absent, but sent a statement that was read by Council Member Carrie Hawkins.
“Concerns about speeding by heavy equipment operators has been addressed,” Tomson’s statement read.
Following multiple complaints from residents, Mayor Al Tomson spoke to the Contractor about the speed of heavy equipment. When the equipment continued to drive near 25 miles per hour on the roads, residents said that the West Virginia Highway Patrol came to Town and spoke to the Contractor as well. Both the Town and residents reported that heavy equipment have continued to stay obey the 15 mile per hour requirement set by the Town for heavy equipment.
“Operators are limited to 15 miles per hour when moving large machinery through town, well below 25 miles per hour speed limit. Public safety remains our highest priority,” Tomson’s statement read.
Tomson wrote that the Town was also addressing complaints about dust control concerning the project.
“Dust issues are also being managed by the contractor and conditions should improve moving forward,” Tomson’s statement read.
Residents have also complained about dust issues associated with the project. According to residents, dust control was supposed to be included in the project.
“If its in the contract that they’re supposed to have dust control, how many days its been that they’ve here and there’s been no dust control,” one resident complained at the meeting. “And I was told by RK&K, Al’s the boss. So if Al’s the boss, why doesn’t he get in there and say, ‘hey, you ain’t had no dust control here, we’re going to fine you a thousand dollars a day for every day you never had it.'”
Tomson also addressed the restoration process. Tomson stated that in some cases, survey markers could be temporarily displaced.
“As construction progresses, restoration will follow,” Tomson’s statement read. “In some cases survey markers must be temporarily relocated and these will be reinstalled by a licensed surveyor. If you notice your marker has been moved, please inform the town so that we can notify the contractor.”
Tomson stated that restoration work should be completed by winter.
“Also if you experience any concerns with property restoration, let the town know so corrections can be made,” Tomson’s statement read. “While restoration may not occur immediately, it will be completed and road repairs will also be addressed sooner rather than later and certainly before wintertime.”
A complaint that was both addressed in Tomson’s statement and raised at the meeting was concerning the decision to build an open ditch along the lower portion of Henry Avenue. Tomson stated that the decision was a collective one between the Town, Department of Highways, the Contractor and Engineers.
“The decision regarding the ditch along the lower portion of Henry Avenue was made collectively by the Department of Highways, the Contractor, the Engineers and the Town,” Tomson’s statement read. “It will be an open ditch within the right of way replacing old pipe that was connected to the sewer. This reflects the professional judgment and recommendations of the experts overseeing the project.”
One resident present at the meeting addressed his frustrations with the project and the promise that the properties would be returned to original condition. The resident said that he had spoken to the Bank President where most of the open ditch is designed to run.
“The big thing is, we signed a paper when that guy come around, your property will be put back like it was or better,” one resident said. “I talked to the Bank President, the Bank President called Al. He bought that property. That was a closed ditch. How would you like it if you had six lots, now the folks start at the top of his lots, clear down through all six lots and make an open ditch. I’d be an unhappy camper. I’d tell you that and he is, too.”
Tomson’s statement emphasized that the Town had been issued a hefty fine by the Department of Environmental Protection and reminded residents that the effort was one of the largest infrastructure projects in the Town’s history.
“This sewer replacement is one of the largest infrastructure projects in our Town’s history, work that should have been completed a decade ago,” Tomson’s statement read. “So please remember that the Department of Environmental Protection originally fined this Town $68,000 underscoring the urgency of the effort.”
Tomson’s statement continued to outline that the project is expected to last approximately a year with a winter hiatus. The statement also outlined that the project is mostly grant funded, which reduces the financial burden on the Town’s residents.
“While the work will involve significant excavation and create temporary inconveniences, I want to reassure everyone that concerns will be addressed as they arise,” Tomson stated.
However, not everyone in the Town are confident that concerns are being addressed as they arise. One resident said that he felt as though he was getting the run around concerning his issues. He had spoken to RK&K, the Contractor and Mayor Tomson about his issues with varying results. The resident said that whoever he calls says that “Al’s the boss,” yet he feels that his complaints are not being addressed as promptly as they should.
“Somebody has got to take control,” a resident said. “They’re saying Al is. I’ve been a thorn in his side I don’t know how many times and its just not happening.”
Another issue the resident raised was the allegation that the Contractor was covering up serious and potentially dangerous issues and damage. The resident claimed that the Contractor covered up damage to a gas line.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about a contractor covering stuff up,” the resident said. “When they dug it up, where they put the sewer line in, I was standing there watching them, they got down to the gas line, here the gas line had a hole in it. You could smell gas before they even got down to it. So they covered up a gas line that was leaking gas, too.”
Another member of the audience at the meeting said that the gas company when they responded to fix the leak said that it had been an old leak. The Council asked for clarification as to when the line had been hit. The resident said the line was suspected to have been hit when the sewer was put in, but it wasn’t found until the contractor came back to install the storm drain.
“If they hadn’t put the storm drain in, we’d of never known it,” the resident said. “It’d kept on leaking the entire time.”
Other complaints that had been filed over the project included flooding concerns that took a month to be resolved, according to a resident present. Council members said that meetings between engineers and the Town have been held where resident complaints have been addressed.
“The bottom line, if you encounter an issue, please contact Town Hall,” Tomson’s statement read.
Residents who have issues or concerns about the ongoing project are encouraged to fill out a complaint form or contact Davis Town Hall to report the issue.
