Resident reports raw sewage on driveway; council refers complaint to city manager and approves two unanimous resolutions

A Lexington resident told the City Council during the citizens’ remarks portion that she has been living with raw sewage and “industrial strength paper towels” on her driveway since a Feb. 7 snowstorm and that Public Works’ cleanup efforts left waste in place.

“Counsel, I shouldn't have to live like this,” Dawn Mays Johnson said, describing an overflowing sewer line and delayed cleanup. She told council that Public Works responded but that the remaining material remained on her property as of March 5 and that she had contacted the city manager and the health department with unsatisfactory results.

Mayor Frank Friedman thanked Johnson for raising the issue and said council would refer the matter to the city manager. The city manager apologized and pledged to investigate the situation personally “first thing tomorrow morning,” noting he would send a report back to council after staff had inspected the site.

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution supporting Virginia Military Institute: Council moved, seconded and adopted a resolution expressing support for VMI; a council member who works at VMI declared a conflict and stepped down for that item; the roll-call vote carried unanimously. (Moved earlier in the meeting; motion and unanimous vote recorded by roll-call.)
- Zoning text amendment (townhouse frontage requirement): Planning Director Arnie Glaser asked council to initiate a zoning text amendment to remove the public-street frontage requirement for townhouses; Council moved, seconded and voted unanimously to initiate the amendment.
- Consent agenda: The consent agenda was approved by roll-call vote.

City manager budget preview: The city manager told council the draft FY27 budget to be released the next day plans about $58,000,000 in total investment (about $38,000,000 operating and almost $20,000,000 capital) and invited public engagement in the budget process.

Why it matters: the resident complaint raises immediate public-health and service-delivery questions; the two unanimous council actions change city policy direction (zoning amendment initiation) and signal institutional support (VMI resolution). Council directed staff to investigate the resident's sanitation complaint and to report back.

Quote: “I shouldn't have to live like that,” Dawn Mays Johnson said of the continuing sewage on her property.