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Residents, water districts raise complaints about broadband crews cutting water lines; jury schedules follow-up meeting
Summary
Residents and water district representatives told the Sabine Parish Police Jury that broadband construction crews have cut water lines and damaged private property. Jurors and water officials arranged a meeting with broadband contractors to seek permitting, bonding and repair assurances.
Representatives of water districts and several jurors told the Sabine Parish Police Jury on Jan. 15 that crews installing broadband infrastructure have cut parish water mains and damaged private property, prompting concerns about public-health risks, repair costs and permitting.
Mike Pitt of the South Lima Water Board described multiple incidents in which crews cut water service lines, left temporary patches and created contamination and repair issues for small water systems. "We don't have the vents. We don't have the equipment to do that," Pitt said, describing the volume of locates and emergency repairs his crew faces when multiple crews arrive with short notice.
Jurors and water officials said the contractors sometimes deployed many crews at once and requested locates for long stretches of pipe on short notice, creating practical and safety problems for small rural utilities that cannot respond immediately. Concerned residents reported instances of private-property disturbance and repeated breaks that required emergency repairs.
Several jurors said the broadband companies had been told they must obtain permits and bonds before working on parish roads and rights-of-way; jurors and staff said a meeting with broadband representatives and water-district leaders was scheduled for the following day to clarify permitting, bonding, notification and reimbursement procedures.
Jurors said they want a formal permitting process and bonding assurance to ensure property owners and parish utilities are compensated for damage and that companies comply with locate and notification requirements. Several speakers warned that damaged water mains in freezing weather create public-safety and public-health risks.
No formal vote was taken on the matter at the Jan. 15 meeting, but jurors asked staff to convene the meeting with broadband contractors, water-board representatives and county staff and to report back with recommended permitting language and bonding requirements.
