Resident tells commissioners contractor cut internet line, left boxes open and left neighbors without phone service

Terry David, a Montgomery County resident, told the Board of Commissioners at the May 20 meeting that contractor work to install internet service cut an existing line and left local residents without phone and internet service for several days.

“My name is Terry David. I preside at 137 Ada Drive in Candor... A few months back, the inspector started putting the Internet in. They cut the line right down the road here and for about 3 days, all the residents below that from from the bypass back down towards the, towards Pekin was without, Internet, and land and landline phone service,” David said during the public comment period.

David said the outage posed a safety risk because some areas in the county have no cellular reception: without a landline or cell service, an elderly person or someone living alone could be unable to call for help in a medical emergency. He also described contractors leaving CenturyLink boxes open for weeks and said that rainwater entered exposed enclosures, which he said could cause additional service problems.

David said he signed up for the new service while with Verizon and felt the new provider had misrepresented coverage. He also raised concerns that contractors entered private property without permission and that calling 811 (the utility‑locating service) did not locate all buried lines.

County officials did not debate the details during the public comment period but acknowledged the complaint and the county manager indicated he would look into the matter. The board closed public comment after the allotted speaker time.

Ending: Commissioners did not take immediate formal action on the complaint during the meeting; the county manager indicated he would follow up.