Sidewalk project raises neighbor's ire when bushes destroyed

Chris Peterson, Hungry Horse News, Columbia Falls, Mont.
·2 min read

Apr. 24—A gutter and sidewalk project on select city streets brought the ire of one resident after she found the 70-year-old lilac bushes that guarded her newly-bought home had been torn out and ground up to make way for the project.

Skylar Eberhart, who lives on Second Street East, told city council last week she saw the survey markings for the city curb and gutter project near her home and tried to get a hold of city officials about preserving the bushes.

Despite several attempts, no one from the city returned her calls, she said.

The large bushes were one of the reasons she bought the home last May. Not only did they act as a privacy barrier to the street, but they also served as a fence to keep her dog in the yard.

Eberhart came home one day to find that contractors had pulled out the bushes and ground them up in a chipper to make way for a new sidewalk and curb.

Eberhart asked the city to fund a privacy fence to make up the bushes. She estimated the fence would cost about $3,200 installed.

True, the bushes were in the city's right-of-way, but Mayor Don Barnhart noted that if the lines of communication had been open between the homeowners and the city on the project, the bushes could have been dug up and replanted off the city's right of way once the project was completed.

"The part that bothers me is (Eberhart) tried so hard to contact the city," Barnhart said. "I feel we owe these folks. I think we really do."

City manager Susan Nicosia apologized for the lack of communication and conceded the city should have had a public meeting with neighbors prior to construction (the city did just that last week).

The city will work with Eberhart to rectify the situation, Nicosia told council.

Knife River holds the approximately $700,000 contract for the project, which includes several city streets. People should expect street closures during work hours on 1st St. East, 2nd St. East, 2nd St. West, 3rd St. West, 5th St. West, and 1st Ave West. Not all streets will be closed at once. Knife River will maintain access to all local and residential traffic throughout construction. The streets will be closed to thru traffic periodically.

The project should be completed by July 1.