Residents raise safety and notice concerns about Lumos construction in Cobblers Crossing subdivision

Two residents of Cobblers Crossing subdivision spoke during public comment on June 3 to report safety, notice and property-damage concerns about work by a telecommunications company referred to in the meeting as "Lumos." They said crews and subcontractors began digging in the subdivision without consistent utility markings, left open pits, and did not provide required advance notice to homeowners.

John Manzo, vice president of the Cobblers Crossing homeowners association, said the subdivision and its residents have been under strain after multiple recent hailstorms and local construction and that crews working for the utility had damaged property in multiple neighborhoods. "We're just really feeling good about that," Manzo said when describing repeated repair needs; he later told commissioners the utility work has caused property damage and left residents feeling "overwhelmed" and "under-protected." Manzo provided his address as 3016 Cobblers Crossing Road, New Albany and requested county assistance in identifying recourse.

Resident Jason Eagle described safety issues he said he observed after construction began. Eagle said the company and its contractors were using public right-of-way rather than rear easements within subdivisions, had dug three-foot-deep open pits in streets without sidewalks where children play, and did not mark several utilities before digging. "The concern was is that once they reach a subdivision, they shouldn't be utilizing those easements that's been plotted by their quarter's office," Eagle said. He named Millennium Incorporated as a subcontractor that had been seeking dig permits and said 8-1-1 and pipeline safety officials had intervened to get utilities marked.

Commissioners and staff told both speakers that the county has limited authority over state-regulated telecommunications work and advised contacting state regulators. The presiding commissioner said the county is in contact with neighborhood representatives and urged residents to send photos; he said he would forward evidence to county engineers, who could speak with the utility's engineers to check compliance with specifications.

Staff and a commissioner suggested residents also contact the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and state legislators as appropriate; speakers at the meeting mentioned 8-1-1 (call-before-you-dig), REMC (rural electric membership cooperative), the Indiana Utility Commission (state regulator), and a pipeline-safety contact who had spoken with residents. The county did not announce specific enforcement actions during the meeting.

Speakers urged clearer advance notices, adherence to marked easements, completion of work already started, and better coordination with 8-1-1 to avoid damaging irrigation and other ground utilities. County staff and commissioners said they would review what authority the county does have, pass along residents' photographs to engineers, and explore contacting state officials where appropriate.