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Board approves Ripple Fiber Metro Act permit after residents raise communication concerns
Summary
Canton Trustees authorized a two-year Metro Act right-of-way permit for Ripple Fiber. Residents at Abbey Woods and elsewhere told the board they had inconsistent or missing notice about trenching work; Ripple representatives said door hangers, advance letters and a help line were part of their outreach.
The Canton Township Board of Trustees approved a two-year Metro Act right-of-way telecommunications permit for Ripple Fiber and authorized the township clerk to sign the permit.
The vote followed questions from trustees and public comment about construction and resident notification. At the meeting Ripple's Jason, identified as the company's director of government affairs, said the company notifies residents with advance letters and door hangers and provides an 800 number and website for questions: "We send letters, a few weeks in advance...and then we do a door hanger where our local team...go out and they door hang things to let people know that we'll be in their neighborhood that week," Jason said. He added that Ripple has an office in Plymouth Township and a regional construction team handling local outreach.
Several residents said communication was inconsistent. Abbey Woods resident Jane Waters told the board many condominium owners received no prior notice of work and that older residents were left confused: "Many of our homeowners were not informed of any of this, and it has been very confusing...a lot of the neighbors are confused that some, several are elderly," Waters said during public comment.
Staff confirmed Ripple holds county permits in areas where work has begun and that township and Ripple staff met to align construction procedures and protect township infrastructure. Municipal services staff said Ripple paused some activity to allow township communications to reach residents and that Ripple representatives had met with departmental staff about working near water mains and other utilities.
Trustees authorized the clerk to sign the permit and required as-built drawings and compliance with Canton's telecommunications ordinance (referred to in the staff report as ordinance number 157, chapter 66). Township staff offered Ripple's business cards and a contact route for residents to raise specific construction issues after the meeting.
