Contractor disputes allegations
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — A Butler County contractor says he is being falsely accused of disrupting graves at a work site.
CRS Contracting, based in Cabot, is the site developer for the second phase of Shannon Mills, a housing development located on Shannon Mills Drive and visible from Evans City Road.
Social media posts on Tuesday and Wednesday alleged that the company was digging up Civil War-era graves from a cemetery on an adjoining property, owned by White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church.
Jeremy Scruggs, who co-owns the contracting business with wife Erica, said Wednesday that there is no truth to the claims.
“During the construction of Shannon Mills phase two, no graves were disturbed, no tombstones were turned over, no human remains or bones were unearthed, and everything is being done in compliance with the township and conservation district,” he said.
A walk-through of the cemetery and construction zone on Wednesday showed no evidence of disturbed graves or remains. There were several loose and broken tombstones on the church property but the cemetery appeared to be well maintained. A buffer zone separated the properties.
Scruggs said he plans to contact an attorney to look into taking legal action against his accusers.
Township officials were not immediately available for comment.
