Residents told the Clayton City Council that recent underground fiber installation work in the Summer Sweep plat caused multiple problems, including power outages, unnotified digs, property disturbance and language barriers between crews and residents.

During public comment and the city manager's report, residents described incidents in which crews entered rear yards, left gates open and did not leave door hangers or knock on doors beforehand. One resident said a dog escaped after a gate was left open and the animal had to be chased down the street. Another resident reported that neighbors were unsure whether power outages were related to MetroNet, Frontier or another party.

City Manager Elaine Whitman said staff and supervisors have been in contact with Frontier and AES to determine whether contractors dug before lines were marked and to escalate issues to supervisors. Whitman said the city has limited authority to stop companies from installing fiber in easements. "We cannot stop them from laying fiber optics in the easements," she said, but added staff is working to verify resident notification procedures and has asked Frontier to consider using a different subcontractor so the problems are not repeated.

Whitman said Frontier had been expected to put notes or door hangers on residences and to knock prior to entering easements; residents said that did not happen in the back portion of the subdivision. Staff also recorded instances where crews did not speak English and residents had difficulty communicating with workers. Whitman said city staff have escalated the issues and documented contacts with Frontier supervisors, and that residents should report post-installation yard damage to the city so staff can request repairs.

Council and staff discussed ongoing communication measures and asked that resident notification be improved before any further work in that plat. No formal enforcement action was recorded at the meeting.