Residents press council on utility notices, community garden coordination and sewer backups

Multiple residents used public comment at the Wilkes-Barre City Council meeting to press city officials and utilities for clearer advance notice and better coordination of street and utility work.

Resident Jamie Smith, who is leading a community garden project at 64 West Ross, said the project has a signed sales agreement and expects to close by the end of the month but has encountered inconsistent responses from utilities when asking about marking and scheduling. Smith said UGI crews began work early one morning without notifying neighbors or leaving door tags and described confusing colored street markings: "So I was just wondering, ... are they gonna repaint this now that they've got, you know, whatever it is, 10 holes all up and down the street and nobody at UGI seems to have any answer." Smith said she had contact with a private contractor (Kreger/Krieger Pipeline) that later declined to proceed and that Joe Rodon was the city coordinator she attempted to reach about paving and permits.

On utility communication, Smith said American Water typically sends a text and voicemail about planned work but that UGI did not follow the same practice in her neighborhood. She recommended door-to-door notices or QR-code project lists so neighbors can know schedules and limits.

At another public comment, Beth Ann McTavish of 82 Darling Street described a stormwater inlet that remained backed up after a heavy event and multiple sewage backups in her home. She said a licensed inspector found "an additional line on your lateral causing your reoccurring blockages" and reported paying about $800 for two clearing visits this year. City staff responded that the city inspected the public system and found normal flow and that the problem appears to be a private combined lateral between properties; staff said separation of private laterals is the property owners’ responsibility and the city cannot perform private repairs.

Council staff acknowledged the issues and said they would follow up where possible, but the transcript records no binding resolution, ordinance change or funding commitment for private lateral repairs. Residents said they would continue to send emails and ask the council to press utilities for better advance notice and cleanup.