Resident urges Hickory to remove hanging cable and phone lines near Murrett Stadium

Resident Bob Post addressed the Hickory City Council on Aug. 5 to ask the city's help getting cable and telephone lines that are hanging down onto the ground repaired or removed, particularly near Murrett Stadium and on Eighth Avenue Northeast.

"There are lines that come down off from the utility poles, run along the ground, go back up to the utility poles," Post said, showing photographs he provided to the council. He said some lines appear abandoned and that the condition has persisted for many months, possibly since the storm "Helene." Post described the wires as a potential hazard and a detriment to the appearance of areas near the stadium and other pedestrian routes.

Post acknowledged city staffer Steve Miller's responsiveness but asked for additional action: "Maybe get on the phone with the utility companies. I'd love to hear what the person on the other end of the line says when the mayor calls up and says, 'Hey. This is the mayor, and I'd like to get something fixed.'" He noted the possibility that abandoned copper wire may have resale value and asked the city to press companies to remove unsafe or unsightly material.

Mayor Gess responded later in the meeting that he supports Post's suggestion and said he is already receiving calls on the issue and would pursue utility contacts. A council member said they liked Post's idea of giving the mayor responsibility for contacting utilities and that it would relieve staff (Steve Miller) of that task; the mayor and council indicated no formal vote was required and that they would handle outreach informally.

No ordinance or formal referral was made at the meeting; the council discussed the matter as a public-comment item and directed the mayor to pursue calls to utility companies as a next step.