Trust staff presented a proposed amendment to the trust’s right-of-way excavation rules (referred to in the meeting as MSUA 2025-06) and told trustees the board would not vote on the ordinance that night but would take it up at the next meeting after further edits.
Key points discussed: staff said the proposed ordinance adds enforcement tools the trust did not previously have, including a permitting requirement for excavations, proof of state registration and insurance for contractors, and a proposed $200,000 performance bond to hold contractors accountable if they “leave a mess” in the public right-of-way. Staff said the new language is intended to give the trust “teeth” to collect on a bond if repairs are needed.
Pole-attachment follow-up: staff said a pole-attachment agreement will follow the ordinance (it will not be part of the ordinance itself) and that the agreement will allow the trust to charge per attachment rather than per pole. Speakers said the trust’s current practice had been to charge roughly $2–$6 per pole, while staff noted market rates of about $13–$14 per pole elsewhere; the trust’s fee schedule will be revised and presented to trustees.
Contractor registration and insurance: staff said contractors and any entity operating on behalf of a contractor would need to be registered in Illinois and have insurance on file with the trust so residents know which companies are working in their neighborhoods.
Procedure and next steps: staff and Penny (a staff member who reviewed the draft) said they were still refining language and preferred to avoid rushing the ordinance to a vote to reduce errors. The board did not vote on the ordinance at the meeting; trustees were told the item will return for formal consideration next week.
Why it matters: the ordinance changes would affect utilities, telecom companies and contractors operating in the trust’s right-of-way and could change application and fee procedures for attachments and excavations.