The Squeaky Wheel, and getting what you asked for

About three years ago, the local sewer folks, MSD (Metropolitain Sewer District) sent out a representative with a handful of maps and waiver forms. Seems that MSD was planning to rennovate the storm drains and sewer lines in my neighborhood, and they needed property owners to sign off in areas where excavation might enroach on private property.
As a sweetener, the guy said they would pave the gravel "right of way" that serves myself and three other residences as a driveway/alley.

So, we waited. Every few months, a truck full of surveyors would come out with their sighting instruments, and spray-paint little red lines on the ground, and plant little plastic flags all over. Then they would leave. The rain would wash away the spray paint, the kids would steal the little flags, and then in a few months they'd be out again to do the same thing.
I even sent an e-mail to the MSD offices, wondering when we might expect work to start.

Well, they did. About 6 weeks ago, MSD showed up with the world's largest back-hoe and proceeded to dig a huge hole in the street right in front of my house. They also suceeded in breaking the water line, which took a day to repair. The hole was left open for several days, then a couple of gravel trucks showed up and they filled most of it in, put steel plates over the top, erected "road closed" signs, and left.
Problem was, the hole was not completely closed; they left a large, gaping hole "protected" by orange plastic snow fence, dangling wires, and various bits of piping and other debris.
Not only unsightly, but hazardous as well. The plastic fencing rapidly collapsed, the wires dangled lower, and kids started using a mound of dirt as a bicycle jumping ramp.

This was status quo for nearly a month. I finally got tired of the situation, and envisioned some drunk from the nearby tavern plunging into the hole and suing ME because it was on my property.
I e-mailed MSD. No response.
I e-mailed my county councilman. Quick response, and he forwarded my note to his MSD liason.
However, a week passed and still no action.
I called the local TV news, and advised them of the situation. Still no response, but someone must have raised hell. Thursday, a crew arrived and re-did the snow fencing, raised the dangling wires, and generally cleaned up. Progress!
They also started excavating in earnest, and I now have a front yard entirely covered by 5 feet of dirt, more huge holes (surrounded by plastic fence) in the alleyway, and no chance of any more work being done till after the 4th.
Oh well....