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Resident urges better communication after months‑long Wallace/31st construction
Summary
Deb Smith told the council she and neighbors received minimal notices during a four‑month water‑main and road reconstruction project on Wallace and 31st streets, described property damage and access problems, and urged pre‑project meetings, frequent updates and better coordination with vulnerable residents.
A Grandville resident recounted months of disruption and property damage resulting from the Wallace and 31st Street water‑main and road reconstruction, and urged the city to strengthen pre‑project outreach and on‑site oversight.
Deb Smith said the project began March 31 and over four months her neighborhood received just two letters and one door hanger from the contractor, Georgetown Construction. "We received two letters and one door hanger from Georgetown Construction," she said, describing sparse direct communication and noting that newsletter blurbs were insufficient for residents who needed advance notice.
Smith said the construction left parts of yards torn up after heavy equipment was used to support a telephone pole; she reported replacing 60 by 30 feet of topsoil at personal expense after large truck wheels tore a section of her yard. She also described damage to underground irrigation lines, extended work hours, last‑minute hustles near completion and a driveway approach that remains bumpy. Smith said some neighbors who rely on oxygen had difficulty accessing vehicles during the work and asked the city to plan for residents who could be effectively “penned in.”
She recommended regular progress reports (email or text), an upfront community meeting to explain phases and contacts, clearer timelines, and better contractor oversight to prevent avoidable damage.
Public works director Charlie was in the council chamber and took notes while the resident spoke; council members thanked Smith for the detailed feedback and said staff would follow up with the contractor and provide more information to affected residents.
