The More Damage is Done

To the editor:

“I don’t give a damn that your house gets flooded.”

The State of Vermont has continuously raised up the road, three feet so far, that crosses the valley in front of my home over the 68 plus years I have been on this property.

With their last paving of November 2022 raising the road, this caused the water to back up higher to the house that never used to flood, causing three flood damaging events to my home.

The VTrans engineer out of the Derby Office told me after the last flood in July, “I don’t give a damn that your house gets flooded.”

The higher the state builds the road/dam and build up the banks, the more damage is done to the road and adjoining property by erosion from runoff each time. It should be obvious to the state they have set themselves up for a losing battle.

The state has refused to acknowledge the damage and destruction done to me caused by their road/dam. For the past 14 months I cannot even get them to return my messages attempting to find resolution.

I have been subjected to hateful and discriminatory treatment by the State of Vermont for simply attempting to have a wrong against me made right. Over 50 phone calls have been made to the Governor’s Hotline and none have even been acknowledged. In theory at least, this line is for citizens to get the services we pay for with our taxes. That includes resolving problems caused by agencies and employees of the State of Vermont.

By my experience, it seems this is only in theory and not in practice.

As things stand, I have no idea if I will be able to even live in my 170 year old historic home or will be forced to live in my car. Already I have driven over 1,400 miles just to take showers the past two summers while I have been without hot water.

Thank you State of Vermont for ruining a 74-year-old’s life and making it a living Hell.
Robert Edebohls
Hardwick