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Gahanna adopts resolution opposing AT&T tariff that would shift utility relocation costs to municipalities
Summary
Gahanna City Council on Jan. 13, 2025, adopted Resolution 004-2025 to join objections to an AT&T tariff filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that would require municipalities to pay utility relocation costs; council members and city staff said the change could make local infrastructure projects substantially more expensive.
Gahanna City Council voted to adopt Resolution 004-2025 on Jan. 13, 2025, joining an Ohio Municipal League–led objection to an AT&T tariff proposal before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that would require municipalities to absorb utility relocation costs.
City leaders said the tariff, filed Dec. 18 at PUCO, arrived suddenly and could add significant expense and delay to planned city infrastructure work. “This proposed tariff really kinda came out of the blue for us,” Mayor Chadwin said at the special meeting. “I do believe they would be cost prohibitive for us, for almost every infrastructure project that we would look to do in the city.”
The resolution adopts a redlined model ordinance provided by the Ohio Municipal League and directs the city attorney to proceed with legal steps to join the challenge. City staff warned the tariff could affect upcoming capital-improvement projects, drive up the local taxpayer share of street, sewer and stormwater work, and increase costs when utilities must be relocated during repairs or emergent work.
Director Comlink flagged specific projects and a recent local example to illustrate potential impacts. He said the city’s own fiber relocation for a recent project cost “right around $100,000,” and added that similar relocation charges could apply to water, sanitary and storm projects if the tariff were approved. Council members pressed on whether emergent repairs (for example, a water-main break) would also trigger relocation charges; staff confirmed those costs could fall to the city in such cases.
City Attorney Tamela Arison said she had secured outside counsel to act quickly once the resolution was adopted. “I luckily as of this evening have made contact with the attorneys at Taft and so things are in place now if the resolution is approved that we can hit the ground running with them as well,” Arison said.
Motion and vote: Councilmember Renner moved to adopt Resolution 004-2025; Councilmember Weaver seconded. The council approved the motion on a roll-call vote: Renner — yes; Weaver — yes; Jones — yes; McGregor — yes; Padova — yes; Schnitzer — yes; Bowers — yes. The mayor declared the motion carried and the resolution adopted.
The resolution directs legal action to oppose the tariff at PUCO and authorizes coordination with the Ohio Municipal League and retained counsel. City staff said next steps include working with outside counsel on filings and notifying affected project managers so cost estimates can be updated where necessary.
