Clarke’s Beach resident worried lag bolts will damage his driveway

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Olivia Bradbury

Clarke’s Beach council recently addressed a resident’s complaint about the setup of a water and sewer project in the town.

The issue was brought forward at the October 6 Clarke’s Beach council meeting. Mayor Danielle Bussey said she was aware the project involved running hoses along the road and using wooden boards to keep them in place.

Councillor Jim Giles said that according to the Town’s maintenance and water operator Ron Laracy, sandbags are usually placed on top of the boards to keep the hoses secure. However, the company hired for the project, Cougar Engineering, are instead using lag bolts — more than 160 of them, which are each six to eight inches long. The resident’s complaint was about the bolts.

“The homeowner has a great concern, I think, because when they haul the boards up, I don’t think the lag bolts are going to come up very easily,” said Giles, who allowed the damaged pavement may spiral crack to the resident’s driveway this winter, and that water may seep into the cracks as well.

“I think all they’ve got to do is cut a nice edge out there all along his driveway and just fill it back in,” said Giles.

Bussey noted the home in question is outside the project line, yet is still at risk of having its driveway damaged due to the bolts.

“We’re going to have to go back and talk to them about their plans to repair it,” said the mayor. She said council should have been notified about the company’s plan to use lag bolts instead of sandbags.

“I wouldn’t want it in my driveway, either,” said Bussey.