Lebanon — A string of residents from the West End Station development told the City Council Monday that unfinished infrastructure and repeated project‑manager turnover at Meritage Homes have left streets, stormwater systems, sidewalks and streetlights incomplete and safety risks in their neighborhood.

Residents including Miro Koosman, Gretchen Russell and Nicole Sanders described persistent defects they said predate home sales: incomplete detention/retention ponds, stormwater controls that are not functioning, construction debris washing into drains, unpaved roads and missing streetlights. Several speakers said certificates of occupancy (COs) were released despite incomplete infrastructure and that the city’s enforcement appeared to have changed after a phone call with the builder.

Gretchen Russell told the council that staff had communicated with Meritage Homes about holding COs until permanent stormwater plans were accepted and cited Ordinance 24‑7058 as the council’s requirement that stormwater systems be corrected and accepted before COs are released. She said an engineering director’s email on Aug. 13 reaffirmed the rule, but that three COs were released within about an hour after a phone call, and those houses were already sold. Russell said the change effectively released nearly $1 million in sales while the work remained unfinished.

Engineering Director Maddie Neely responded that the city has been attempting to hold COs where practical and is still holding the last CO pending completion. Neely said Meritage has gone through seven different project managers on the site, that progress had been made prior to the recent turnover and that staff is pursuing alternative actions, including drawing on the developer’s letter of credit (surety), to finish the remaining work.

Neely also addressed a removed subdivision sign reported by residents: she said Dollar General removed the sign and is holding it while the city explores an alternate placement across the street (which would raise easement and landowner‑permission issues). She said sign permits are administered by the city’s sign‑code enforcer, not by site‑plan review.

Other residents described vehicle damage caused by unfinished road work, missing pavement, damaged irrigation and a hazardous drop‑off at driveways. One speaker said a neighbor fell into an ungrated drainage inlet and was injured.

Council reaction included repeated assurances that staff is pursuing enforcement tools. Councilor Morehead and Councilor Moorhead both said they had worked with staff on similar developments and urged patience while staff pursues the letter of credit and enforcement. Councilor Carmack and others thanked residents for bringing documentary materials to staff for review.

What the record shows: city staff confirmed that letters of credit (surety) are commonly held to secure completion of subdivision improvements, that the city had historically relied on surety while issuing COs, and that staff is evaluating changes to hold a percentage of COs in future projects. No new ordinance or formal council action on enforcement was adopted at the meeting; Neely said staff would work with the city attorney to draft clearer language about holding COs or permits.

Residents asked for quicker enforcement and clearer accountability from the developer; staff said the city will pursue available remedies to finish outstanding work and that the last CO remains withheld while matters are unresolved.