Grifton family raises concern about yard damage

A Grifton family used the public comment period at the March 12 town Board of Commissioners meeting to complain about damage to their property that they say was caused by a town contractor.

Mark Jones and his mother, Joyce Jones, of 6941 Martin Luther King Drive told the board the contractor damaged the property, including a prized crape myrtle tree, while it was working on a sewer line over two years.

Joyce Jones said she met with Town Manager Oryan Lowry about the issue the previous week, and he told her he would contact the contractor. Jones said she and her son came to the board meeting to ensure the issue was being addressed.

“When it rains, it pours water all the way down our driveway under the cars and down the sidewalk,” Joyce Jones said. “… You were supposed to get up with the contractor and get back to me, and I haven’t heard anything.”

Jones said the contractor moved her crape myrtle tree because the town needed access to and from the sewer area. The contractor said they would keep her tree in reserve; it would be in good shape and replanted.

“Now after all of this has transpired, they tell me I can’t put the crape myrtle back where it was, and I called the mayor to tell him that my beautiful crape myrtle that was full grown now looks like a Charlie Brown tree,” said Jones.

Jones said the contractor has left the property in disarray and she is concerned that after two years it will be too late to get them to do anything.

Mark Jones said that his family uses the yard, especially in the spring and summer for family functions. He said he has someone that can repair the damage and will expect the town to reimburse them or he will see them in court, he said.

In other news the board:

Adopted a proclamation from the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children in conjunction with the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children to celebrate the Week of the Young Child from April 6-12.Approved a request to allow Gary Gladson to use the Saint David St. Park for the 2024 Amateur Radio Relay League Field Day, June 22-23.Appointed Vernon W. Stewart Jr. town Planning Board.Approved the request from Shayne Koehn, owner of “Twice the Ice” vending machine, to waive sewer fees.Accepted an invitation from the Community Foundation Inc. to participate in its annual golf tournament on Thursday, Sept. 19.Heard a report that Hillside Original FWB Church, 6862 S. Highland Blvd., in Grifton has open 12-step meetings at noon on Tuesdays. The meetings began March 5.