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Brownsburg resident details safety, access and communication problems during West College water-sewer project
Summary
A long-time Brownsburg resident described prolonged driveway closures, uncovered excavations, dust and missed trash pickups related to a recent West College water-sewer project and asked council for follow-up; town staff and a councilor agreed to review the issues after the meeting.
Melissa Turpin, a Brownsburg resident of 29 West College, told the Town Council on March 13, 2025 that neighbors experienced extensive disruption during the town’s water-sewer project on West College.
Turpin said the project created prolonged driveway closures, large open excavations and heavy dust that damaged landscaping. “We had a very tough time,” she said, describing incidents when driveway access was blocked for roughly four weeks, a trench “about 50 to 60 feet long, 22 feet deep” outside the homes and repeated truck traffic that left dust and debris on property. She said Calumet workers provided some assistance but that communication and follow-through by contractors were inconsistent.
Turpin also described repeated missed trash pickups after the county switch to a new hauler and noted that, after seeking places to park while driveways were inaccessible, a neighbor received a parking ticket for using a nearby lot. She said curbs were omitted from the reconstructed street and that sidewalks were already showing damage where residents are parking on them.
Town staff and councilors responded during the meeting. A councilor asked Assistant Town Manager Sean Pabst to take a list of Turpin’s concerns; Pabst indicated staff has been collecting information and that he would review photos and the project record. A councilor offered to meet with Turpin after the meeting and requested staff participation to pursue resolution.
Turpin raised specific follow-up items she asked the town to examine: whether curbs were omitted by design, whether contractor site safety and signage were sufficient when large excavations remained open for multiple days, whether cleanup and dust suppression were properly performed, and whether the missed trash pickups were being resolved with the hauler. The clerk and staff noted the town had issued boil-water notices at points during the project and that some utilities necessitated temporary service interruptions that complicated residents’ ability to comply with instructions.
Councilors said they would review the matter and meet with Turpin and staff after the meeting. The town did not make any binding policy changes during the public comment period; staff recorded Turpin’s concerns for follow-up.
