Earlier this month, Blue Point residents on Middle Road reported on social media that portions of their front lawn had been taken up by county workers causing widespread aesthetic damage to their property and incapacitating their sprinkler systems.

County Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-7th District) was alerted on social media about the construction, which additional residents reported that they had been notified about, but not to the invasive extent.

The construction that tore up lawn space was connected to a plan by the Department of Public Works that was approved from a traffic study conducted before Thorne began to serve office in 2022.

With additional foot traffic cited in the study at Corey Beach, sidewalks were recommended and planned for the area, along with drainage improvements.

“All residents in the area were notified of a paving project that would be taking place, and although the letter did speak of sidewalk and drainage repair, it did not reference new sidewalks being installed,” said Thorne.

In a letter issued June 6 to homeowners affected by the plan to install new sidewalks, Thorne said, “…all lawns that have been disrupted in the affected area will be restored, and any sprinklers that have been damaged will be repaired by the county.”

The paving and drainage work has continued, as well as repairs for any existing sidewalk.

Repairs and replacements of curbs to be ADA compliant will also be conducted.

“Some of the residents have voiced concerns over crosswalks and other safety issues and we will be addressing those issues as we go,” said Thorne.