Resident urges TCPUD to enforce safer trenching after exposed pipe and loose gravel caused fall

Robert Millslagle, a full-time Tahoe Cedars resident, told the Tahoe City Public Utility District board that crews from Granite Construction left an uncovered excavation and loose gravel outside his home and that he later fell after tripping on a length of pipe protruding from the ground. "Leaving a hole this size uncovered particularly overnight and over a weekend creates an unnecessary and serious hazard," Millslagle said during the public-comment period and provided photographs to the board.

Board members and staff acknowledged the concern and described the district's expectations for contractor work zones. A staff member said contractors typically install a compacted aggregate base as a stabilized temporary measure and return later in the project to perform permanent hot-mix pavement patching. The presenter added the permanent patches for the neighborhood are planned to be completed before winter.

Directors asked staff specific questions about whether the trench by Millslagle's driveway had been patched; staff said temporary patching is used during ongoing construction and that permanent repairs will follow project completion. The district also noted it has communicated about paving expectations in recent neighborhood newsletters and will include further reminders about winter-ready patching in upcoming project updates.