Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Coordination topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County, Encore discuss coordination to avoid repeated utility relocations during road widening
Summary
Representatives from Encore told Hunt County commissioners that premature relocations of utility poles increase costs and urged better coordination when the county plans to widen roads; commissioners agreed to pursue periodic coordination meetings between county staff, Encore and developers.
Representatives from Encore, a utility relocation contractor, told Hunt County Commissioners Court on June 16 that relocating poles and lines ahead of county road-widening projects can create inefficient, zigzag alignments and raise costs for ratepayers. Encore staff said they wanted relocation timing to align with the county's actual construction schedule.
Larry, speaking for Encore, introduced Richard Brewster (supervisor), Anthony Gordon (manager), Sam Thornhill (local design supervisor) and Diane Harris (local coordinator) and described multiple recent requests to move lines before the county was ready to widen the road. Encore's team said those isolated relocations can require additional poles and fittings and create redundant work if the county later returns to perform a full roadside widening.
Commissioners discussed examples where developers or landowners had requested relocations of short sections of line and where Encore would then need to install supplemental poles and anchors to detour around properties that had not cleared right of way. Encore representatives said they undertake relocations when necessary but prefer to coordinate with the county ahead of road-construction mobilization to avoid adding cost for ratepayers.
Court members asked whether other counties coordinate this work; Encore said Hopkins County uses advance coordination when road work is scheduled. The court and Encore agreed that county staff, Encore and the county development director should set up periodic coordination to share planned road projects and schedules so relocations can be timed to match full roadway construction. A commissioner volunteered to help coordinate initial meetings with Encore and County Development Director Brian Toole; commissioners said the matter did not require a court policy change but did require improved communication among staff, developers and Encore.
No formal action or contract change was taken; the court asked staff to facilitate coordination and to return to the court only if unresolved policy questions emerge.
