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Residents urge better communication and safety measures as sewer work rattles homes
Summary
Residents described early‑morning tamping, repeated vibration and safety concerns from a multi‑year sewer construction project; one resident said her medication delivery was delayed after mailboxes were disturbed and urged the town to improve warnings and schedule transparency.
During public comment at the July 14 board meeting, residents detailed how the ongoing multi‑year sewer project has affected daily life and safety in several hamlets.
Cheryl McDeltic (resident) praised the crews’ diligence but described persistent early‑morning activity and heavy, repeated tamping that shook her house. She said she used a seismic app and "was getting readings of 2.8 on the Richter scale" and that windows rattled in her home and neighbors’. McDeltic also said driveways are being interrupted by deep ditches, that several mailboxes were knocked down and that one of those disruptions delayed a critical medication delivery from OptumRx for five days. "What if this was a critical heart medication someone needed but didn't get delivered because of one‑way delays and passenger drivers? Do we want a crisis?" she asked the board.
Other commenters asked for a clearer long‑term plan and day‑to‑day scheduling details, noting the project is divided into sections and will take multiple years, and that laterals (service connections) present a different set of disruptions than mains. Several speakers urged the town to improve advance warnings, to coordinate with delivery services and emergency responders, and to post more detailed timelines so residents can anticipate work that affects sleep, deliveries and access.
Town response and next steps: The supervisor and several board members acknowledged the concerns and referenced prior public briefings and a prior meeting where project sequencing was discussed. Board members suggested staff post or circulate clearer schedules and consider additional communication tools; specific deadlines or new mitigation measures were not set at the meeting.
Why it matters: Ongoing construction that interferes with mail, medical deliveries and emergency access raises public‑safety and equity questions, particularly for residents who are elderly, on night shifts or require critical medicines.
