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DeSoto Parish jurors authorize DA to pursue Swift Fiber over water-system damage
Summary
Water-district officials told the jury contractors installing federally funded SWIFT fiber cut and damaged parish water lines, leaving districts with tens of thousands in repairs; the jury authorized the district attorney to pursue reimbursement and other remedies.
Water-system officials told the DeSoto Parish Police Jury on Nov. 3 that crews installing SWIFT fiber optic infrastructure caused repeated damage to distribution mains and service lines, leading to at least tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs and ongoing operational strain.
David Riles, administrator for DeSoto Water Works District No. 1, said multiple incidents over a five-and-a-half-month period have cost his district an estimated $68,000 in conservative expenses including labor, vehicle use and locates. He said two large unreimbursed repairs — one on a 12-inch main and another in Benson — amounted to a combined several thousand dollars and remained unpaid, and that crews sometimes took water from fire hydrants without permission. "There's a lot more to this water business than average person knows," Riles said, urging the jury to help secure reimbursement.
Ken Crocker, representing the Teachout Water System, reported roughly $69,000 in repair costs to his system and said many lines lack locator wire because they were installed in the 1970s; he described subcontractor crews working in large numbers and leaving dirty water and boil advisories in some areas.
Legal counsel briefed the jury on options, saying Swift Fiber holds the primary contract to install infrastructure and that crews are often subcontracted; counsel said Swift received federal funds through Louisiana's broadband program and that the state broadband lead had indicated there may be public funds available to help reimburse water districts. Counsel requested authority from the jury to pursue legal remedies if necessary.
After discussion, a juror moved and Robbie Lathan made a motion (second by Bubba Clark) to authorize the district attorney to take action to recover costs and pursue repayment for invoices related to damage caused by SWIFT subcontractors. The jury approved the motion in a recorded vote.
Jurors also asked staff to collect and share documentation (invoices, photos, KMZ files showing planned work) and to try to secure bonding/contract information from Swift and its subcontractors. Officials said they had requested contracts and bonding documents from the state contact but had not yet received them.
Next steps: the district attorney was authorized to pursue reimbursement and other remedies; staff will compile documentation and work with water districts to define a successful outcome and any additional leverage (such as withholding remaining work) if Swift continues operations into a subsequent phase.
