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Milton residents complain about EZ Fiber work, city says stop-work orders and follow-up underway
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Summary
Two residents urged the council to address EZ Fiber trenching and unfinished restoration after contractors installed an above-ground vault and left non-gardenable backfill without the required notices; planning staff said stop-work orders were issued and the city is working with the contractor to fix problems.
Bill Myers and Tom Boyle told the Milton City Council on March 16 that recent EZ Fiber installation work damaged yards, created safety concerns and proceeded without the written notice the franchise agreement requires.
"They dug the trench. They backfilled it...put in 5 eighths minus, which is not something you grow grass in," Bill Myers said, describing a utility vault he said was placed about "5 and a half feet from the driveway, 11 inches from the sidewalk" and left with compactable rock unsuitable for planting. He identified the subcontractor as Horizontal Technologies and said the city had not posted the required door-hanger notice before entering private property.
Tom Boyle, a Milton resident and current planning commissioner who announced he is stepping down midterm, told the council neighbors had reported blocked roadways, no-notice work and concern that oversized equipment could impede emergency access. "Who's going to be inspecting their finish work?" Boyle asked, listing landscape restoration, traffic-rated junction boxes and sidewalk panel replacements as outstanding concerns.
Council members raised parallel questions during council reports and the planning commission work-plan discussion about oversight and inspection capacity. "There should be somebody else out there that is in authority and can direct the traffic," Council Member Whelan said, noting inconsistent vault-cover heights and uneven restoration along rights-of-way. Council Member Ternes later said she had noticed EZ Fiber issues around the city and called for the company to be addressed directly.
Planning manager Angelie Stalnecker told the council that public works staff had met with EZ Fiber multiple times, had issued stop-work orders on several projects and were continuing to work with the company and other cities to refine oversight. "They finally got it enough that they did talk to the higher ups, not just the subcontractors," Stalnecker said, adding the city was continuing to follow up on outstanding repairs.
Mayor asked Myers to provide contact information so staff could follow up directly; Stalnecker and public works staff said they would continue enforcement and remediation, and that city crews had joined contractors in resolving some issues.
The council did not take formal action on the complaints at the meeting; staff said follow-up with EZ Fiber and remaining stop-work orders are ongoing.
