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Glynn County tightens oversight of Live Oak Fiber after St. Simons traffic disruptions
Summary
After two days of daytime fiber work that snarled traffic on St. Simons Island, Glynn County commissioners and staff said they issued stop-work orders, cited the contractor and imposed new coordination and traffic-control requirements to prevent repeats.
Glynn County commissioners on Aug. 1 pressed county staff to impose stricter controls on Live Oak Fiber after two days of daytime work on St. Simons Island produced major traffic backups and safety concerns.
Public Works Director Danny Smith told the commission that Live Oak had not coordinated work with county staff and lacked location-specific traffic-control plans. "Live Oak must meet weekly with the public works right away coordinator," Smith said, and the county has required weekly coordination meetings so staff can approve or disapprove where the company will work. Smith said the county issued a stop-work order after the second day and will enforce compliance with county rules moving forward.
Smith outlined specific requirements the county has mandated: location-specific traffic-control plans prepared by a certified traffic-control supervisor or engineer; night-only work for arterial and collector streets on St. Simons Island (including Frederica and Demere avenues); adherence to MUTCD traffic-control device standards; and, for work at signalized intersections, the inclusion of an off-duty law-enforcement officer. "All work at signalized intersections must include an off duty law enforcement officer," Smith said.
County staff also issued a citation for a right-of-way permit violation that requires a magistrate-court appearance. Smith said further violations could draw additional stop-work orders, fines or revocation of right-of-way permissions. Smith said Live Oak told staff that one subcontractor began work without the company's knowledge; Live Oak "owned their actions," Smith said, and agreed to meet and comply with county stipulations.
Chief Ebner, speaking for public safety, said the traffic backups impeded emergency response and recommended exploring ordinance changes or contract conditions that require law-enforcement presence at significant operations. Commissioner Fendig, who requested the item, said residents and visitors had been severely impacted during the two-day episode and urged staff to ensure the company is "kept on a short leash."
Smith said Live Oak is about 75% complete countywide and that the company expects to perform work on state right-of-way (Highway 17) within about a month; state work requires GDOT approval and is not under county permitting, though staff said the county will attempt to coordinate and provide recommendations.
County staff said they will require stricter advance notice, enforce night work on specified corridors, and monitor compliance; they said they will seek tighter scheduling estimates from Live Oak at the next coordination meeting. Commissioners did not take a formal vote but endorsed staff measures and directed ongoing monitoring.
The county advised residents that continued violations could lead to permit revocation or fines and that staff will report back to the board as compliance actions proceed.
