Commission approves Golden West fiber applications, company pledges road repairs and a pre-holiday traffic plan

Golden West Telephone's engineering consultant presented a countywide plan to finish fiber-to-the-home service for remaining customers in Fall River County and the commission approved the company's right-of-way and road-crossing applications.

Travis Falk of Heberly & Associates, the engineering firm working for Golden West, told commissioners the Shep's Canyon project would replace existing copper with fiber along Cascade Road, Highway 701 and adjacent roads; he said the project is wholly company-funded (not RUS-funded or grant-funded) and estimated the project cost was "upwards of $5,000,000." Falk said the company intends to use directional boring under county roads wherever possible, and when rock conditions prevent boring the company will coordinate with county highway staff and perform restoration work, including a one-year warranty for contractor restorations.

Commissioners approved a set of applications and maps for the project and discussed operational concerns: Golden West said it would place extra traffic mitigation resources on Shep's Canyon before July 4 and would coordinate with county highway superintendent Tony on staging, dust abatement and road repairs. County staff requested written commitments for road restoration and agreed to have staff and Golden West sign a written restoration plan following the meeting.

The commission approved a motion to accept all of the submitted applications for the Golden West Shep's Canyon fiber project; staff said Golden West would provide updated staking sheets and end-of-project maps to county staff.