Gastonia resident tells council water‑main work damaged her home; seeks reversal of city liability finding

Reverend Doctor Doris Sanders told the Gastonia City Council she and her family suffered extensive water damage after city water‑main repair work, and she asked the council to reverse a finding that the city was not negligent on her liability claim.

Sanders said the city performed repairs on an unidentified water main on Oct. 18, 2024, and that she discovered water under her ground‑level floors on Nov. 4, 2024, after returning from a hospital visit. She said the repair work allegedly pushed water pressure “to 160 PSI,” bursting a pressure valve in her house at 4060 Creekstone Trace, Gastonia, NC 28056, and causing water damage across the ground floor. Sanders said the family was displaced while repairs proceeded and that she has incurred roughly $45,000 in costs so far.

Sanders told the council she filed a liability claim that was recently decided “not negligent” and asked the council to overturn that decision and pursue a fair settlement, including reimbursement for property damage and medical costs she said resulted from mold exposure under the floors. She said she had difficulty obtaining clear information from contractors and that a subcontractor who visited refused to give a name or truck number.

Sanders said her husband is diabetic, that the family’s living circumstances remain difficult (four people sharing limited facilities), and that she believes other nearby homes may have been affected or billed repeatedly for related issues. She asked the council to investigate whether other active leaks exist and to take responsibility where city work caused damage.

The council did not announce any immediate action in response during the meeting; Sanders’ remarks were part of the public‑expression section of the agenda.