Resident says construction runoff flooded neighbor’s yard; town staff says issue resolved and being monitored

Buddy Nelson, a Kernersville resident, told the Board of Aldermen on Aug. 27 that grading related to a five‑story apartment building on Pine Butte Street left ‘‘a 4 foot hill’’ on his mother’s property and that runoff during heavy rains ‘‘flooded mama's house, yard, garage 3 or 4 times.’’

Town Manager Swisher said staff responded after the flooding and worked with the contractor. Swisher told the board that staff visited the site and ‘‘made the necessary repairs and adjustments on their property so that it should contain it.’’ He said inspections continue: ‘‘Wendy Hartup, she goes out and checks it periodically to make sure everything's in place.’’

Swisher described two separate incidents during heavy rains: one when the contractor was offsite and silt fencing had been displaced, allowing muddy runoff onto the neighboring property, and a later occasion when staff were able to get someone on site to correct the problem. He said the runoff extended from the neighbor’s backyard ‘‘all the way out into Harmon Lane.’’

Nelson asked the board to hold the project’s approvers accountable and to apologize to his mother for the damage. The board did not take a formal vote or direct further action during the meeting on that specific complaint.

The matter was raised during the public‑comment portion of the meeting; no litigation, claims, or remediation agreement were presented on the record.