Residents and commissioners raise concerns about tribal fiber work after sinkholes, alleged property damage

At the Feb. 4 meeting, commissioners and a resident described damage and safety worries connected to a tribal fiber‑optic installation in Needles and asked staff to monitor contractor activity and clarify legal rights around utility easements.

A commissioner reported a sinkhole found at a property line and asked staff to monitor the tribal contractor’s trenches. A resident told the commission she encountered a masked contractor who would not answer questions about how far work would encroach on private lots; she said she recently paid for a new septic system and feared damage to her water hookup and septic work. The resident reported the contractor’s response: “If we break it, we fix it.”

Project oversight and staff response: Kathy (project staff) said contractors are required to locate and pothole utilities before boring and that an engineer provides on‑site oversight for the tribal project. Kathy said staff will escalate unresolved problems to the tribe’s representative and to Mojave Telecommunications. City Manager Martinez said the project is not a city construction job but noted that the city issues encroachment permits and coordinates communication when private or tribal work affects city right‑of‑way or utilities.

Permits and easements: At several points commissioners and staff discussed encroachment permits and public utility easements (PUE). A staff member (Joe) clarified that there are two concepts: an encroachment permit to work in the street/right‑of‑way and work within a PUE; staff stated permits are required for both. Staff said they would check permit records and county/right‑of‑way maps to clarify whether particular work is authorized by a deeded easement or by an encroachment permit granted to the tribe or a utility.

Why it matters: Residents raised concerns about possible damage to private services, the need for clearer communication from contractors, and long‑term easement rights that allow utilities to access private property for repairs. Staff committed to providing follow‑up information on permits and the legal basis for access and said they would continue to respond to complaints through their escalation protocol.

Next steps: Staff asked residents to report incidents directly and said they will gather maps and permit records and provide the commission with follow‑up information about permits, utility easements, and the escalation process.