Question about utility work

[Marvin the Martian]

Aren't utilities required to restore areas that they dig up? Our neighborhood had utility work start in October, finish in December. Annoyingly, they started placing flags in yards way back in April and again in July, so mowing around flags became a sport most of the summer. But after the subcontractor left in December, they left things as is. So I have a large dirt mound and a hole they placed a concrete box in. The box occupies most of the hole but I believe there should be dirt on top and around the box. A lot of grass was destroyed by the digging equipment. All winter long my front yard has been mud. But I was thinking come spring, they would fix it.

We've had a beautiful week in Bloomington and no signs of anyone. This is a great time to get grass in to get growing. The dirt mound has set pretty solid, so digging it out would be annoying. Not to mention the cost of getting sod to replace the large area destroyed (growing seed is just flat out impossible, I've tried that on bare spots for years).

So am I accurate that the company has the obligation to restore the lawn? I know that AT&T was the utility involved, but I don't recall who the contractor was. But I suspect the digging contractor would not be the repair contractor. I was looking at the county government website, I don't see a branch that seems to deal with this sort of issue. I'm curious, what would people here do in such a circumstance.

Frankly, there should be a law that they leave notices when they do work stating how long it should take and what they will do after. The only reason I even knew they were working for AT&T was I spoke to the second person out planting flags.

 

[mcmurtry66]

Aren't utilities required to restore areas that they dig up? Our neighborhood had utility work start in October, finish in December. Annoyingly, they started placing flags in yards way back in April and again in July, so mowing around flags became a sport most of the summer. But after the subcontractor left in December, they left things as is. So I have a large dirt mound and a hole they placed a concrete box in. The box occupies most of the hole but I believe there should be dirt on top and around the box. A lot of grass was destroyed by the digging equipment. All winter long my front yard has been mud. But I was thinking come spring, they would fix it.

We've had a beautiful week in Bloomington and no signs of anyone. This is a great time to get grass in to get growing. The dirt mound has set pretty solid, so digging it out would be annoying. Not to mention the cost of getting sod to replace the large area destroyed (growing seed is just flat out impossible, I've tried that on bare spots for years).

So am I accurate that the company has the obligation to restore the lawn? I know that AT&T was the utility involved, but I don't recall who the contractor was. But I suspect the digging contractor would not be the repair contractor. I was looking at the county government website, I don't see a branch that seems to deal with this sort of issue. I'm curious, what would people here do in such a circumstance.

Frankly, there should be a law that they leave notices when they do work stating how long it should take and what they will do after. The only reason I even knew they were working for AT&T was I spoke to the second person out planting flags.

Call nonstop. They're slow to get around. Just harass the shit out of them as annoying as that is to have to do. Utility easements don't give them the right to F up your property. Generally that comes with a duty to restore it. Each state's law may vary but that's generally the case. The practical reality is I trust it doesn't sound like enough damage to go through the hassle of engaging a lawyer. I'd again just keep calling over and over. Sucks

 

[Joe_Hoopsier]

What 66 said. I've seen it take 6-8 months and even then, the job they did were sub par. Call, Call and then go in person and be a Karen. They will either fix it or wait you out until you grab a shovel, but I bet they eventually "fix it".

 

[TMFT]

If you want to be what the kids these days call "extra," see if you can't find an attorney friend to send the utility a letter on firm letterhead threatening action. I've never been involved in a case like this but I'm sure there is some kind of tort there. Maybe a nuisance or something?

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

Aren't utilities required to restore areas that they dig up? Our neighborhood had utility work start in October, finish in December. Annoyingly, they started placing flags in yards way back in April and again in July, so mowing around flags became a sport most of the summer. But after the subcontractor left in December, they left things as is. So I have a large dirt mound and a hole they placed a concrete box in. The box occupies most of the hole but I believe there should be dirt on top and around the box. A lot of grass was destroyed by the digging equipment. All winter long my front yard has been mud. But I was thinking come spring, they would fix it.

We've had a beautiful week in Bloomington and no signs of anyone. This is a great time to get grass in to get growing. The dirt mound has set pretty solid, so digging it out would be annoying. Not to mention the cost of getting sod to replace the large area destroyed (growing seed is just flat out impossible, I've tried that on bare spots for years).

So am I accurate that the company has the obligation to restore the lawn? I know that AT&T was the utility involved, but I don't recall who the contractor was. But I suspect the digging contractor would not be the repair contractor. I was looking at the county government website, I don't see a branch that seems to deal with this sort of issue. I'm curious, what would people here do in such a circumstance.

Frankly, there should be a law that they leave notices when they do work stating how long it should take and what they will do after. The only reason I even knew they were working for AT&T was I spoke to the second person out planting flags.

Have you talked to Bloomington?

 

[Marvin the Martian]

Have you talked to Bloomington?

I'm county and not city.

 

[mcmurtry66]

I'm county and not city.

You could always just go up there, Marv. Sometimes more effective than calling

 

[iuwclurker]

Parents lived over by Rogers/Binford and one of those gigantic trees died and fell over at the backside of the property. A neighbor was concerned and had complained repeatedly to the school about the danger for the kids playing in the fallen tree. On a Friday I suggested to her to call the Herald Times. On Monday they removed the tree.

I don’t think you need a lawyer to initiate legal jeopardy. Once the newspaper makes it public they’re in trouble. If you have a hole in your yard your “Mother with Alzheimer” could hurt herself.

 

[76-1]

Aren't utilities required to restore areas that they dig up? Our neighborhood had utility work start in October, finish in December. Annoyingly, they started placing flags in yards way back in April and again in July, so mowing around flags became a sport most of the summer. But after the subcontractor left in December, they left things as is. So I have a large dirt mound and a hole they placed a concrete box in. The box occupies most of the hole but I believe there should be dirt on top and around the box. A lot of grass was destroyed by the digging equipment. All winter long my front yard has been mud. But I was thinking come spring, they would fix it.

We've had a beautiful week in Bloomington and no signs of anyone. This is a great time to get grass in to get growing. The dirt mound has set pretty solid, so digging it out would be annoying. Not to mention the cost of getting sod to replace the large area destroyed (growing seed is just flat out impossible, I've tried that on bare spots for years).

So am I accurate that the company has the obligation to restore the lawn? I know that AT&T was the utility involved, but I don't recall who the contractor was. But I suspect the digging contractor would not be the repair contractor. I was looking at the county government website, I don't see a branch that seems to deal with this sort of issue. I'm curious, what would people here do in such a circumstance.

Frankly, there should be a law that they leave notices when they do work stating how long it should take and what they will do after. The only reason I even knew they were working for AT&T was I spoke to the second person out planting flags.

Try to find a threat to safety angle if possible... In my experience..., companies are scared to death not of the money pay out (to an injured civilian) but the potential bad press received by having allowed an accident to happen...

For that matter..., send some photos along with a brief outline of the problem to any news out that will take them... The Indianapolis news outlets (based on their content over the past year) are desperate for any real local (Indiana) news... Spin this as a big company running over the little guy and they'll lap it up... (they're all Democrats and believe that most corporations are in league with the devil so it shouldn't be a tough sell)... All the TV stations up here used to have a "Call for Help" line where they run a follow up on if the company ticks them off...

Tell ATT step by step how you intend to escalate this and hopefully they'll be bright enough to nip it in the bud...

The bad news is, having dealt with ATT in the past (we won but having done so probably permanently raised my blood pressure 20 points😣)..., is that they'll play the - bounce you around to 10 different people, put you on hold multiple times for 20+ minutes and then strategically "accidentally" drop your call game - and force you to run the same gauntlet multiple times...

If you show them you're simply Not going away they'll finally deal with you but they make you suffer to reach that point (and they know exactly what they're doing).😡

 

[Joe_Hoopsier]

Try to find a threat to safety angle if possible... In my experience..., companies are scared to death not of the money pay out (to an injured civilian) but the potential bad press received by having allowed an accident to happen...

Like lay on the ground next to the hole, wearing a C Collar and send them a picture.