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Kaufman County approves Charter Communications fiber installs, officials warn about unpermitted crews
Summary
The commissioners approved Charter Communications’ requests to install fiber on several county roads, while staff said unidentified crews have been laying lines without permits and the county will attempt to identify them and bring them into the permitting process.
Kaufman County commissioners on April 21 approved permits for Charter Communications to install fiber-optic lines on multiple county roads, while staff warned that other, possibly unpermitted crews have been working in county right-of-way.
Jeremy, a county road official, told the court Charter submitted a traffic-control plan and will use boring methods—about 5-foot depth—to avoid damaging county infrastructure. "There shouldn't be any disruptions with regards to traversing," he said, and asked the court to approve the permits.
Jeremy also said crews who are not the approved contractor have been installing lines on County Road 129 and other locations. "We are actively trying to figure out who these folks are," he said, adding staff would attempt to bring them through the permitting process.
Commissioners expressed frustration that some crews appear to work on weekends to avoid detection; one commissioner said pipes were left protruding in the ditch and would need to be removed. The commissioners approved the Charter installations by voice vote.
The approvals cover installs on County Roads 308, 309, 311, 313, 371 and Grabs Lane in Precinct 3, and Abner Road and County Road 129 in Precinct 1. County staff said they will require traffic-control plans and waterline protection measures as part of the permits and will follow up on the unpermitted activity.
