Residents press contractors, board over high school site work after trees cleared and wood chips blow into neighborhood

Residents and board members pressed the district’s contractors May 21 about site operations and neighborhood impacts at the new high school construction site after recent tree removal and wood-chipping activity that neighbors say sent debris onto private property and into student walk routes.

Katie Heatherington Comfort, senior director of business development at SiteLogic, and Anthony Maris, project executive for the general contractor (BSI), told the board they have installed erosion- and sedimentation-control measures, completed much of the site layout and are working to finish fencing. "We appreciate the opportunity to come talk about the project and take feedback and have an open dialogue," Heatherington Comfort said.

Maris (who also introduced himself as Tony/Anthony Maras later in the exchange) described the customary order of operations and said weather and conservation-district requests had affected timing for some controls. "We had a little bit of a snag at the beginning, but I think everybody rallied and worked to address it quickly," he said, and offered to meet with neighbors individually if problems occur.

Residents said the sequence — trees removed before fences and screening were in place — exposed students and neighbors to chips and debris. Jen Metzger told the board she and neighbors photographed wood chips and said testing of fill material raised concerns about PFAS contaminants; she characterized the placement and dust as a health and safety issue. The district said it had contacted the contractor immediately when notified, held a meeting with the contractor and SiteLogic and that staff will monitor the project with a dedicated on-site construction traveler.

Board members asked what repercussions, if any, would be applied if contractors failed to follow agreed procedures. Contractors said they will pursue screening, adhere to hours-of-operation limits required by a task force and work to minimize disruption. BSI’s project executive said the company typically works with union trades and that the contractor will evaluate qualified local labor referrals for general labor openings.

The administration told the board it sent letters to about 75 nearby properties and offered a phone contact for neighbors to report concerns. Board members committed to follow up and to monitor erosion controls, fencing completion and traffic/safety at the site during construction.

Several speakers made technical claims about testing and contamination that the district did not substantiate during the meeting; the district and contractors characterized the response as "responsive" and said on-site oversight and further communications will continue as the project advances.