San Juan commissioners press staff to assess damage after Vexus Fiber construction

A San Juan commissioner urged the city to investigate damage allegedly caused by crews for Vexus Fiber LLC after residents reported broken water lines and street damage on the city’s north side.

At the October meeting, the commissioner said the work had been done without prior notice to the commission and described visible damage to infrastructure, saying: “they broke in some shorelines, water lines. They’ve damaged some of our roads.” City staff said crews held excavation permits and provided liability insurance but that telecommunications providers working under state franchise or right‑of‑way authority may be allowed to operate in city rights‑of‑way without prior municipal approval.

City staff told the commission they met with the company and asked the contractor to restore affected areas and that the city would assess whether additional repairs were required. The commission directed staff to document damage, compile cost estimates including city labor hours, and pursue reimbursement or corrective action from the company as appropriate.

During the discussion commissioners repeatedly pressed staff on communication gaps, asking why the project had not been brought to the commission earlier and requesting a formal report back to the commission on the scope of damage, estimated repair cost and the identity of contractors and subcontractors involved.

City Manager Arjona (name spoken in the transcript) and staff said they would follow up by inspecting the work, collecting receipts and hours for any city repairs, and seeking resolution with the company. Staff noted that certain telecommunications works are permitted by state authority on rights‑of‑way, which can limit municipal preapproval requirements.

The commission did not adopt immediate sanctions at the meeting but approved a direction for staff to assess damage and return with documented costs and recommended next steps.