Huddleston residents tell Bedford County contractors damaged septic lines, left homeowners with health citations

Melissa Veil, a Huddleston resident, told the Bedford County Board of Supervisors on March 10 that a contractor working under the county’s broadband project dug on private roads without notifying homeowners, damaged septic infrastructure and created sinkholes that led to a health department citation preventing her from operating an Airbnb.

Veil said the contractor (identified in her remarks as “Bridal”) came onto private property about two years ago without notice. She said homeowners told the crew that properties used septic systems; the crew continued excavation and later Veil discovered visible sinkholes near her property. Veil said she received a health violation citing gray water draining into a lake and that she has spent “tens of thousands of dollars” hiring contractors to repair the damage because, she said, county-contracted parties have not provided assistance.

Ed Craig Hill, another Huddleston resident, described a separate but related account. Hill said the work—referring to the contractor variously in his remarks as “Zadel” or similar spellings—damaged two force-main sanitary lines on Olive Lane and a neighbor’s property, each about 1,000 feet, and that the contractor did not follow applicable VDOT-like protocols he expected. Hill said he has 43 years in construction and that the damage forced him to shut down his house for five months; he said he and neighbors have paid for emergency and long-term repairs and have submitted insurance claims that he described as stalled.

Both speakers said they provided the board with photographs, invoices and other documentation. Hill told the board he believes the county should “step up and hold your contractor accountable” and said the homeowners’ documented losses total roughly $40,000. He said they had sought help from county staff including John Putney and Rodney Gray and from subcontractors and insurers, with limited results.

Chair (Board of Supervisors) told the speakers, “We’ll talk about it, and someone will get back with you,” and later indicated follow-up would likely occur within about two weeks.

The speakers asked the board to identify who county residents should contact for damage and permitting questions related to county broadband work, to help resolve stalled insurance claims, and to hold the contractor responsible for repair costs. The board did not take formal action on the floor during the meeting; the Chair indicated staff would follow up with the residents.

The residents’ remarks came during the public comment portion of the meeting. They provided addresses: Veil at 108 Island Lane and Hill at 110 Olive Lane in Huddleston (District 2), and said they had submitted a packet of photographs and documentation to the board.