By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
When a piece of heavy equipment eased into Pond No. 3 in Seven Lakes West, residents driving along Longleaf couldn’t help but notice. Andy Miller, a retired military veteran and owner of Legion Construction Services, calls the machine a “work boat.” Its job is to improve and protect local waterways.
Miller spent about 25 years in the military, much of it in Special Operations before moving into defense contracting. The travel and long stretches away from home prompted him to seek a different path.
About seven months ago, he took his exterior construction and landscape business full time after running it part time for about a year.
Legion Construction Services focuses on grading and drainage, water management and site work, what Miller describes as managing water “from the sky all the way down to the lake.”
After repeated requests from homeowners to remove stumps, sediment and debris from lake coves and pond edges, Miller began researching specialized equipment. After traveling to Florida to visit manufacturers and test different machines, he settled on a “work boat with dredging capability.”
This is an agile piece of equipment designed to remove material from the bottom of ponds and lakes without the heavy-handed approach of large excavators or high-volume pumps.
The investment allows Miller to offer a service that has not previously been available in the area.
“When you install a substandard drainage system under a road, a culvert or a property, it affects the health of the lake. Ultimately, where we live, everything goes into the lake. Somehow, some way, it all makes its way there,” Miller said.
Pond No. 3 is surrounded largely by Seven Lakes West Landowners Association property. One of the original ponds in Seven Lakes West, it feeds into Lake Auman and plays an important role in managing stormwater for the surrounding area. It is the focus of Miller’s first project using the work boat.
Miller estimates his team will remove between 400 and 500 tons of sediment, organic material and debris from the pond by the time the project is complete, restoring tens of thousands of gallons of water capacity.
“When these ponds lose capacity, that’s when you start seeing problems like stress on dams, blocked culverts and, during heavy rains, water going places it shouldn’t,” he said.
Beyond improving infrastructure, Miller said dredging also improves water clarity, oxygen levels and habitat for fish and wildlife. It can also affect how people experience the lakes and how potential buyers view lakefront property.
“The first place people go when they’re looking at a house is down to the water,” he said. “They want to know if their kids and grandkids can enjoy it.”
While the bright yellow work boat draws its share of attention, Miller said the heart of his business is people, particularly veterans leaving the military. Legion Construction Services partners with a military transition and fellowship program to offer opportunities for retiring service members. Miller helps participants identify market gaps and learn the business side of construction. Some go on to launch their own companies.
The work boat represents more than just a new service. It is part of Miller’s broader mission to protect the waterways and to help fellow veterans find a new course close to home. Contact Legion Construction Services at (910) 975-7818 for more information.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
