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DeKalb County to lift SurfNet stop-work order if company provides enforceable removal letter
Summary
After highway staff reported improperly installed conduit, commissioners agreed to release a stop-work order for SurfNet provided the company submits an updated letter acknowledging removal obligations and an agreed completion deadline; the county emphasized reliance on the company's bond if work is not completed.
DeKalb County commissioners agreed Dec. 8 to allow highway staff to release a stop-work order on SurfNet work if SurfNet provides an updated letter containing language recommended by county counsel and a firm completion date.
Highway staff said crews for SurfNet had resumed work after the county issued a stop-work order because conduit was installed too shallow and too close to the road. A county official said SurfNet proposed removing the improperly placed conduit when weather allows; in response, county counsel recommended adding explicit promises about the county's ability to rely on the letter and proposed a specific deadline. "We have a $100,000 bond on them," a highway official said, noting the bond gives the county enforcement leverage if SurfNet fails to remove the conduit.
Commissioners discussed adding a deadline to the company's letter (options discussed included May 1 or May 22, 2026) and using a stop-work order if SurfNet fails to complete removal by that date. One commissioner said a written letter alone might be argued as a nonbinding promise, but counsel said a revised letter plus the county bond makes enforcement more practical.
The commission voted to permit the highway director to release the stop-work order conditioned on receipt of an updated SurfNet letter with counsel's additional language and an agreed completion deadline.
Why it matters: County roads and right-of-way safety can be affected by shallow or incorrect conduit installations. Staff balanced the need to enforce standards against residents' connectivity needs and SurfNet's grant deadlines.
Next steps: County counsel will provide suggested language for SurfNet's letter; SurfNet must deliver an updated letter acceptable to counsel for the stop-work order to be lifted, and the county will use bond or stop-work authority if the company fails to meet the deadline.
