ComplaintsforMELS Consulting & Construction Company LLC

• Initial Complaint

  09/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  09/25/22- This company does landscaping for our neighbor behind our house/resident and uses a leaf blower to dispose of their rubbish, which is blown over in our property (also in our home and through our windows) and other neighbors surrounding them. This has been ongoing for months now on Sundays. We have made multiple attempts to kindly ask them not to use the leaf blower and also spoke with the owner of the property they are working on. We have no problem with them using their lawn mower or weed ******, but we don't want them to use any leaf blower at all due to blowing dirt, rubbish, and bacteria in the air that can cause health related problems especially I have asthma. I have noticed that when they do see us outside watching them, they try to hide the leaf blower and use it descretly (and change to electric leaf blowers so we can't hear them). I just want them to stop using their leaf blower within a residential area for health concerns and safety.

  Business response

  10/05/2022

  ************************** (Owner)
  MELS Consulting ***** Construction Co. LLC
  ************
  ******************************** 
  
  Property Owner and Address
  Elli ***** *****************
  552 **************
  *******, ** 96732
  
  BBB Complaint #********
  
  Date of landscaping at ************************.: September 25, 2022
  Subject: Yard Cleaning 
  Workers: ************************** (image; IMG_****.PNG)
  *************************** (image; IMG_****.PNG)
  
  Tools used:
  Honda walk behind mower w/mulch kit
  Stihl FS 131 Weed Trimmer
  Stihl BGA 100 battery blower (59 dba)
  
  Contracted Work
  Yard general lawn care cleaning consisting of weed trimming, mowing and clipping disposal;
  
  General summarization of yard work done on 9/25/2002;
  We are contracted twice a month to do general yard cleaning 
  We cleaned ***** maintain on days feasible for the owners my company; Week days ***** weekends
  We used the above tools as mentioned
  We clean/maintain both front and back yards
  There is a 6ft high wall separating the complainant and the homeowners property house; approximately (please see attached)
  o 40ft (image #****) to 6ft high concrete wall
  ? Worker Jaron blowing just cut seashore turf edge on onto uncut seashore turf so it will be picked up by mower when that portion is mowed blowing was approximately 5 minutes at most
  o 51ft (image #****) to 6 ft high concrete wall
  ? Worker/owner ************************** was blowing recently cut edge trimming from wall of home so when we mow, mower will pick up clippings. approximately 8 minutes blowing with battery blower 
  ? IMPORTANT NOTES: 
  We water down properties we maintain prior mowing or weed trimming as needed to enhance dust control 
  o Image #**** shows *** watering the lawn and blowing with battery blower
  We pick up clippings, cuttings, mowing and general leaves with our Walk behind mower 
  o This reduces dust, air borne general lawn ***** yard cuttings/clipping 
  Front yard is grass and potted plants
  Back yards has 2 sheds, three citrus fruit trees, 35% lawn and 45% open ***** ground areas
  
  MELS Consulting ***** Construction Co., LLC response:
  I do not recall the complainant (*******) ever spoke to me directly as the owner of MELS Consulting ***** Construction Co., LLC; I would have gladly explained our methods and techniques to meet the homeowner request and neighboring/adjacent properties
  Owners never told us to stop using blowers, they are actually looking at purchasing the same battery Blower for their use
  o Only once owners only mentioned that neighbors complained about dust and we immediately stopped
  o As mentioned previously we altered our method/techniques by watering down the lawn areas being worked on 
  ? As additional note:
  We water down the entire front and back yard after maintenance is completed to minimize dust 
  We practice normal and customary landscaping methods and techniques that is used in the landscaping industry  
  We landscape/maintain both Commercial and Residential properties throughout Maui and this is our first complaint 
  o We work closely with our clients and their surrounding properties to ensure we are completing the tasks within the standards, rules and regulations
  ? Example we do not start landscaping on property till after 9am. Even though we are allowed by County Noise/Sound ordinance, we are respectfully to their mornings
  We do not hide anything that we do!
  o We are compliant to the law, Standards and rules Our equipment and operating process/procedures are consistent with industry standards, government rules and regulations. 
  o Our Battery operated blowers are 59 dba as compared to Gas operated units at 79 dbas
  ? Gas operated blower is 239 mph
  ? Battery (BGA 100) is at 168 mph
  ? Less sound and less air particulates
  ? We used this blower on majority of landscaping projects that warrants this usage versus gas power blowers
  Sunday September 25, 2022 was very light winds coming from the east. 
  o There is a 6ft high wall separating these properties 
  o We were blowing freshly cut grass off the side walk and wall areas that was 40ft and 51ft away from the 6ft high wall
  o Complainant house is located Northwest of Funakoshi property 
  o Very light east north east winds were blowing between both properties
  o Southerly winds would blow towards complainant homeBUT, We never cleaned the Funakoshis property on Southerly Wind days 
  Summary
  It is the decision of the property owner to decide what landscaping tools can and cannot be used on their property to include the process.  ********************** is handicapped due to a stroke and uses a ****** to get around. He uses a small blower to blow down the same areas that the complainant has mentioned in her document that we were working. Accepting this request would greatly hamper Mr. ********** ability to keep his property maintained clean and sanitary. Further, I cannot speak nor make decisions for future landscapers who will be hired to work on their property. Mr. ***** *********************** are 70s and late 60s respectively and cannot maintain their yards as when they were in their 50s
  
  I am a Maui Local Small Business owner that has been in the industry for 40+ year, never I had any complaint filed as me or my company  What we do on this island will decides our business, reputation and honor. I was born and raised on Maui Island and a very active member in our ********************* *************************** ****************** and non-profits. 
  I have chronic asthma since I was 3 years old and my children also have asthma
  o We are users of asthma treatment products such as inhalers and nebulizers.
  This handicap has not stopped us from doing things we love to do including our work.
  Because of our asthmatic handicap we go over and beyond normal processes to ensure we address Best Practices methods and techniques when it comes to dust control.
  
  MELS Consulting ***** *************** LLC is not doing anything illegal, unsafe nor usage of any unsafe health working methods. Again, the tools, techniques and methods are industry standards. The weed trimmer and mower produces more dust at this property. The minimal time the battery blower is used versus the weed trimmer and mower; that is churning and cutting non-grass and dead grass areas of the property. My company is very transparent and does not hide anything as the complaint states. 
  
  MELS Consulting ***** *************** LLC was hired by Mr. ***** *********************** to clean and maintain they property. I do it to help them at a financial lost! As a contractor I have the opportunity to decide which projects I will take on, stay on or cancel. 
  
  This is a very unfortunate situation and that lead to my company being brought before the BBB for a decision whether I am wrong or not.  We will do our due diligence but, I cannot speak for future landscapers and for the owner about using blowers for landscaping as this is an industry practice and extra care was given on the Funakoshi property  
  
  
  Please do not hesitate to contact me immediately to resolve complaint #********
  
  Respectfully submitted, 
  
  
  MELS Consulting ***** Construction Company, LLC
  ************************** (Owner)
  ************
  
  
  Reference 
  Customers Statement of the Problem:
  09/25/22- This company does landscaping for our neighbor behind our house/resident and uses a leaf blower to dispose of their rubbish, which is blown over in our property (also in our home and through our windows) and other neighbors surrounding them. This has been ongoing for months now on Sundays. We have made multiple attempts to kindly ask them not to use the leaf blower and also spoke with the owner of the property they are working on. We have no problem with them using their lawn mower or weed ******, but we don't want them to use any leaf blower at all due to blowing dirt, rubbish, and bacteria in the air that can cause health related problems especially I have asthma. I have noticed that when they do see us outside watching them, they try to hide the leaf blower and use it descretly (and change to electric leaf blowers so we can't hear them). I just want them to stop using their leaf blower within a residential area for health concerns and safety.
  

  
  

  Customer response

  10/05/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau,
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ******** and here is my response:

  I thank the owner of the company for taking the time to respond to my written complaint and explaining his work/service process/method. I appreciate you helping an elderly couple maintain their lawn, but I would have not made a formal complaint on BBB if the issue of using a leaf blower was resolved the first time we made a complaint to the owner of the property and workers a few months ago.

  It is unfortunate that our complaint to the property owner and to the worker of the landscaping company did not prevent future use of the leaf blower by our wall line. We are not complaining just for ourselves, but also on behalf of the other neighbors around us which was mention to the owner of the property when my husband went to speak to him directly during a day they had the landscapers over. Also, the owner of the company stated that they are 40ft away from our wall which we appreciate, but keep in mind you are not 40 ft away from the left and right neighbors walls. If this business continues and follows what their owner/manager says of how they do their job/duties, then I have no problem.

  I will keep a watch on things and if they do not follow what they say, further action and possibly legal action will be taken. I have asthma and it is no joke, so I would assume that the business owner who states he has asthma would understand how hard it is to breath with particles in the air and also how life threatening an asthma attack can be. It is also not safe for yourself or workers of the company to inhale such pollutants. 

  This is why I am against the use of leaf blowers in general. Even electric leaf blowers can cause air pollution,  blowing debris and particulate matters, like old animal f**** and bacteria into the air, where people's clothings and personal items can be covered in. You might not be able to see all of this dust and debris, but it is there. 

  My only solution is for the company and any company that does landscaping at small residential areas, to switch over to using something safe, a broom/rake. Especially if this is for them to clear debris on a small sidewalk area or small residential property. Be mindful of the other neighbors surrounding them too and especially if we have windows open. You do not need strong winds to blow the dirt, the dirt will fly anyways with the leaf blower. Hence use a broom or rake, something environmentally safe and less hazard for humans. 

  Once again, thank you to the owner of the company for responding. We are not trying to stop you from conducting your business and helping people. Our simple request is for you to stop using the leaf blower (even electric) in small property yards that can pose health problems.

  
  Sincerely,
  *************************

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