A Lacey construction project has sent animals scurrying in the direction of a residence, and now that resident is threatening to sue.
Those were the claims made by Althea Sims, who addressed Lacey City Council on Tuesday during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Sims said for the past three years she has lived behind a water tower construction project that has disturbed the animals in the area, sometimes sending them in the direction of her home.
Sims referred to them as "critters," "animals" and "rats."
The construction project is the Terry Cargil reservoir, which the city awarded in March 2022. It overlooks the shopping area known as Lacey Crossroads at College Street and Yelm Highway.
Construction began in May of that year and was expected to last 480 days or until late 2024, The Olympian reported.
Sims told the council that as a result of the construction she has had exterminators come to her house on a quarterly basis.
She also has put out traps on her patio, Sims said.
"Me and my grandchildren have not been able to calmly sit on the patio," she said, adding that once the construction work begins, "they come running."
She added that she also paid a lot of money for an outdoor TV theater that they have not been able to enjoy.
Sims said she has called the city.
"Nobody has gotten back to me and I have called and called," she said. "Now I'm at the point where I have to file a tort claim. I shouldn't have to do that."
Sims added that she worked as a tort claims investigator for the state for more than 25 years, a fact that was confirmed by her LinkedIn page.
After she spoke, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder said the city would respond to her concerns.
"We will make sure someone gets to you as soon as possible," he said.
The Olympian also reached out to Assistant City Manager Shannon Kelley-Fong to see whether the city would like to respond to Sims' claims. She declined to comment.
