Dear Eric: My husband and I live next door to a family that, when having work done at their house, tends to use low-wage, unlicensed workers. We found out they are getting their driveway repaved.
The men we saw with our neighbor were in an unmarked truck and may not be professional concrete workers. I said to my husband that if they start jackhammering into the driveway without calling the utility company to get the underground utilities marked, I was going to call the utility company. My husband said I was not to do that.
He is adamant that I do not advise anyone, and let the neighbor take the consequences of what may happen. My husband said I am being too nosy. I said I am not nosy but concerned. If they hit a gas line, there could be consequences for many homes in the neighborhood. So, am I too nosy or rightfully concerned?
—Paved Paradise
Dear Paved: Your concern is valid; the consequences of hitting a utility line would probably impact more than just your neighbor if the workers don’t do their due diligence. But waiting until the jackhammer revs to life is too late. The national Call Before You Dig number is 811. The emphasis here is before.
Calling the number or visiting Call811.com will connect you to your state’s 811 center website, but they’ll want to do it a few business days before digging begins so they have time to come out and mark buried utilities. It’s better that they call because callers also need to know the type of project being undertaken and the exact area on the property where the workers are planning to dig.
Reminding your neighbors and their workers of the importance of doing this in advance, even for small projects, may stave off your husband’s “nosy” accusations (unfounded, I think). Plus, it’s the law.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
