Supervisors sign off on MidAmerican fiber‑optic installation in county right‑of‑way

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved county sign‑off for a MidAmerican Energy fiber‑optic installation that will run largely in state highway right‑of‑way and through city limits.

County staff described the project as similar to a prior MidAmerican fiber build that moved through Pocahontas County and other parts of Humboldt County; the company’s contractor is handling communications and facilitation. Staff said most work is occurring along state highways or inside city limits and that the county’s signature is required because part of the route lies within the county boundary. Staff noted notification letters had been sent to adjacent property owners and that the county had received a small number of calls and one written complaint about potential construction impacts.

During discussion staff explained that the utility’s purpose is improved security and communications for substations and that earlier work had caused localized disturbance such as drive culvert or tile damage where dozers crossed fields. County staff asked landowners near the route to check for any driveway or tile damage after construction and report it to the county for repair or contractor remediation.

The board voted to accept the application, with one supervisor moving and another seconding; the motion carried by voice vote.