My town was awarded a grant last year that allowed them to replace water pipes throughout most of the city. Our front yard (along w/everyone on one side of the street throughout town) was completely dug up from the side of the street to 7-8 feet into the yard. On my street every other driveway was also torn up for the same distance (Luckily mine was not). Once the work was completed the city put everything back and replaced anything that was destroyed on anyone's property. Mailboxes were put back where they belonged, someone who had steps built into the hill in her yard got new steps, if they dug up your plants they pretty much put them back into the same place. If your driveway was destroyed they came in with asphalt and fixed it...even our water meter cover that was broken was replaced. Even grass seeds were thrown out several times. Anyway...point of my story is that they probably have to fix any property that they destroy (i.e. the fences) but I think you'll have to wait for the trees to fill back in!

WalStMonky said:I believe the stimulus package includes money for refilling the holes as well as digging them.
You mean refilling the holes with money, Right ?

Governments need easements to provide services to its citizens. They often do not enforce the easements for years and owner after owner starts to plant, build, etc. It does not change the easement.

Its difficult to get the SH(% from your house and your neighbors' homes to the main line and out of the neighborhood without digging holes.

Wait for them to re-do the sewers, fill in the hole and then replant.

Any wood fence should be able to be repaired with about $40 in cement, nail and materials.

they are trespassing on private property. I guess the word "easement" didn't register.

nycll said:Don't worry, since his town gives him a free replacement of his own sewer hookup, he will be writing Obama a thankyou note.I doubt they are replacing the sewer lateral that connects the OP's home to the sewer line that is being placed.

Most sewer lines are placed beneath the street, which avoids much of these types of problems.

Would you really be less upset if you had recieved the letter?

zzyzzx said:Would you really be less upset if you had recieved the letter?

I would be less upset with having been given notification, them having clearly marked the huge ditch in my yard and some more care taken into account when trimming the bushes.

I myself would have contacted the city as soon as I found out from my neighbor to see exactly what it is their going to do to in terms of work. At the very least, you'd have a better idea of what's going on.

I would think that if the bushes were "on the property line" they are encroaching on the City's easement. Assuming the City has an appropriate easement for a sewer line, it extends below the surface, and your bushes' roots would be encroaching on that easement, which in the case of a sewer line, is a problem.

Beckles said:There is pic showing the house line.Only a small portion of it, it does not appear they are replacing his lateral, maybe a small portion of it to make sure the tap to the sewer line is good, but not all the way to the house.That's still a good thing, no?