Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greenville property owner tells council roundabout landscaping work damaged yard, created safety hazards
Summary
A Greenville resident told the council that plantings and grading around the new Fifth and Elizabeth Street roundabout have caused soil mounds, damaged yards and left an exposed electric meter and fuse box near a student volleyball court; resident said repeated requests to Public Works went unanswered.
During public comment at the Oct. 6 Greenville City Council meeting, resident Ivan Brown told the council that landscaping and grading done as part of the new roundabout at Fifth and Elizabeth Street harmed his property and created safety hazards.
Brown identified himself as a property owner at 409 Elizabeth Street and said the landscape plan includes oak trees and planting choices he judged incompatible with nearby driveways, overhead power lines and raised planting beds. "Who would plant oak trees that can grow 100 feet tall, 50 to 75 feet wide, and get 7 foot trunks in a raised bed planter box?" Brown asked. He said soil mounds and an improperly cut grade left a one-foot ridge in his yard and that construction debris had been buried under new soil. Brown also said an electric meter and exposed fuse box were placed on a cement pad next to an existing student volleyball court, which he called "a clear and present safety and health hazard."
Brown said he and other neighbors met with city employees four times over four months but received only a "band aid" remedy and that Public Works did not return calls. He said an email chain documenting the dialogue disappeared from his inbox and that the city told him Public Works could not reach a compromise.
Mayor PJ Connolly and council members did not take an immediate action on the comment but asked Brown to provide contact information so staff could follow up. The clerk noted the city had contact details on file and the mayor thanked Brown for coming forward.
Why it matters: Brown's comments raise potential safety and property-maintenance concerns tied to a public works construction project. The council did not vote on remedies during the meeting; Brown asked the council to address the matter at its convenience.
