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Hunt County denies multiple utility/telecom permits after resident complaints; court approves appointments and road work
Summary
Following testimony from a property owner who said unpermitted utility crews damaged a water line, Hunt County Commissioners denied a batch of fiber/utility permits and requested stronger company coordination; the court also approved appointments to regional boards, road projects, an evaluation committee and denied a subdivision variance.
A Hunt County property owner told commissioners Nov. 25 that contractors identifying themselves as AT&T workers—later identified by a deputy as employees of Vertex Underground—were on his Precinct 2 land without visible permits, causing a severed water line that cost $725 to repair. The court subsequently denied a group of utility and fiber permits and directed staff to require companies to explain work, provide documentation and coordinate with county officials before resubmitting.
Richard Lewis Jr. said he found a ``gaping hole and a severed water line'' on his property and that the crews had no IDs, uniforms or vehicle markings. "All because someone failed to request a Hunt County permit," he said, asking the court to table an AT&T permit request until outstanding questions were answered.
County officials acknowledged multiple similar complaints from residents and said some work had already been done without adequate permits or notification. After discussion, the court voted to deny action items 8–18 (a set of utility/fiber permit requests listed on the agenda) and asked the county attorney and staff to send formal letters to the companies to require in-person explanation and documentation before further approvals.
Votes at a glance (select actions taken Nov. 25): - Denied: Action items 8–18 (requests to place fiber/utility lines where no utility easement existed); court instructed staff to require company contact and documentation before resubmission. - Approved (voice votes): appointments to the Northeast Texas Regional Rail Transportation District (reappoint Greg Sims; appoint Bobby Stovall), nominations for Hunt County Appraisal District ballot (Jim Bob Grove, Paul Painter), formation of a five-member evaluation committee to review RFP #286-26 (I-30 administration facility), acceptance of TxDOT assist allotment letter, widening County Road 1088 (925 feet), upgrade of ~2,000 feet of County Road 1101 from dirt to rock (county expense), and Farmers Electric Coop electrical crossing requests under normal stipulations. - Denied: Action 22, a variance to divide a parcel with substandard road frontage and significant floodplain; staff had warned of FEMA and septic constraints. - Approved: Final plat of Rangel Reyes Estates (with associated required road improvements).
The court recessed into executive session under the applicable Texas Government Code sections and reconvened at 12:13 p.m., concluding the regular meeting at 12:13 p.m.
