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Monroe council approves new damage-prevention team and budget share after hearing on fiber expansion

Monroe City Council Strategic Planning Meeting ยท November 10, 2025

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Summary

Council approved reclassification and creation of damage-prevention positions after staff outlined recent law changes, rapid fiber deployments and repeated utility strikes. Staff estimated $322,000 annual cost shared 33.3% across three enterprise funds.

City staff outlined new state damage-prevention requirements and rapid fiber installation in Monroe's service territory, and council approved the creation of a unified damage-prevention team to respond.

Jay Voyles, deputy general manager for energy and water (presenting on behalf of Water Resources and Energy Services), told council recent legal changes require a utility representative on-site for certain excavations, extend locate-ticket validity from 15 to 28 days, and change marking lead times. He said the city currently has "7 fiber utilities in the city of Monroe" installing large volumes of fiber and that two companies have communicated plans to install roughly 500,000 linear feet each by Dec. 2026.

"With this unified structure, it will allow us to reduce our truck rolls through consolidated locates," Voyles said, outlining a staffing proposal that would reclassify four existing energy-services locator positions as damage-prevention specialists, create three additional damage-prevention-specialist positions and one critical-assets lead. He estimated an annual budget increase of $322,000 and proposed a 33.3% cost-share across three enterprise funds.

Council members asked whether the city can recover costs from fiber companies. Voyles said state statutes limit what the city can charge for routine locating and right-of-way use but that encroachment-plan fees and other administrative fees may cover some costs; he warned that charging a per-visit fee could encourage noncompliance. The council also discussed cross-training and the long-term need for the team as fiber construction continues.

Mayor (speaker 1) moved to approve the reclassification and new positions; a second was recorded and council proceeded with a voice vote. Following the vote, council members thanked staff for the analysis. The new team will be implemented under consolidation of Energy Services and Water Resources with staff to handle hiring and budget adjustments.