Accountability
Yes, we finally have it
Last week, or maybe the week before, I’m not really sure as my summer has been a dumpster fire, a citizen reached out to me about the water in her home. Wow, what a mess. Her family lives in Bridle Creek. The house was built in 2017, and they purchased in 2019. Minor water issues were noted when the home was built, and those were remedied by a french drain. This family had zero water issues until this year. This year the final phase of the subdivision was started, and their water issues began.
The red X marks the new portion of the subdivision that has been started. The existing homes are to the left. This home is getting the brunt of the water.
That center video is blurry, but that is a foot buried in their grass. Well, what do you think happened to this developer? Jody Allen builders was hit with a stop work order. They have “illicit discharge” and “stabilization needed” to continue building. The only work they are allowed to do is on fixing the storm water drainage issue. How do we know they will be held to it? The mayor visited this family and assured them that the builder would not be allowed to continue until the city decides they are in compliance. When the family asked what happens if the problem continues AFTER the subdivision is complete, the mayor assured them that the bond stays until the city decides all problems are fixed.
Is the city picking on this builder? Nope, they are in good company. Highland Park Development has a stop work order for erosion prevention and sediment control, with an “inability to contain illicit discharge.” Calista Farms is out of compliance with TDEC, once again illicit discharge and they were slapped with a stop work order. As of July 25th, they had made significant progress and have been allowed to continue work on road grades and curbing only until the stabilization of the storm water infrastructure is in place. The Mills has a stop work order. Their pond discharge structure is leaking and there is constant flow from pond 3 to pond 2. They need additional stabilization. Summerlin Phase 9 has illicit discharge and their sediment pond is not holding the correct amount of sediment. There are IMPENDING stop work orders for the following developments: Sage Farms, Fields at Oakwood, and the Town Center.
Enforcement of these rules is enacted as follows: Verbal warning, written notice, citations, stop work orders.
The city is ON IT!!!
While none of this solves the immediate issues of the residents with water in their homes, this is a HUGE win for the city. We asked to be heard. We asked to be helped. Our board is doing what we elected them to do. THIS is how it’s supposed to work. Our elected officials are supposed to be our neighbors. Our representatives are supposed to be the people that have to live with the consequences of their votes and decisions. While nothing is perfect, I really wish my school board worked like White House’s BOMA. There will always be something to complain about. Traffic sucks, construction is terrible, school traffic is about to kick in, the damn truck stop…….it goes on. However, we need to hold on to the small wins. Having a planning director that is actively holding the developers accountable with the city board at his back is a win. You did this White House. You have elected officials working for the people. You have been given a republic…..if you can keep it.
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That is great news, and I sure hope those affected households get relief soon. Thanks for sharing!
Someone from the city needs to check on the “Copes Crossing” development on Tyree. Their retention/detention ponds have no buffer zone, or vegetation/trees planted to help with erosion control or storm water filtration as outlined in Chapter 5 of TDEC’s storm water and erosion control requirements nor meet sumner counties regulations on the same.