Vernon Hills approves right-of-way agreement with I3 Broadband for fiber expansion

The Vernon Hills Village Board on Sept. 17 approved Resolution 2024-028, authorizing a right-of-way permitting agreement with I3 Broadband to support a privately financed expansion of fiber-to-the-home service in the village.

Director Jennings introduced the measure, saying the agreement standardizes permitting and sets mutually agreed terms for work within the village right of way. Brian Olsen of I3 Broadband told the board the company plans all-new, privately funded subterranean fiber infrastructure and will “predominantly” use directional boring rather than open-cut trenching. Olsen said the company is “authorized to provide the service by the Illinois Commerce Commission.”

Trustees questioned how the company will protect irrigation, pet fences and private utilities during construction. Public works staff and legal counsel pointed to the village’s right-of-way ordinance, which requires detailed plans, bonds, insurance and restoration; if a contractor fails to restore damaged areas, the village may call the bond and perform repairs. Olsen described the street-level footprint as small flush lids “about the size of a laptop” and said I3 will present construction plans for public works review before field work begins.

The board recorded aye votes from Trustee Marquardt, Trustee Forster, Trustee Oppenheim, Trustee Schenck and Chairman Pro Tem Cook; the motion carried. The right-of-way agreement will allow the village to manage work in its right of way while the utility expansion proceeds under state authorization and the village’s bonding and permitting conditions.

What happens next: staff will review detailed construction plans and enforce bonding and restoration requirements; no construction start date was specified.

"This is all brand new infrastructure," Olsen said during the presentation. "We're also trying to maintain ... restoration is a key and critical part of what we do."