Longwood to tighten oversight after repeated fiber work damages water infrastructure

Longwood commissioners and staff spent much of their April 20 meeting focused on repeated underground utility strikes tied to recent fiber‑optic work, with the city manager saying the city has documented 12 incidents so far in 2026 and three significant strikes that prompted stop‑work orders.

“We've had 12 incidents involving underground utility strikes by the communication contractors,” City Manager Will told the commission, adding that three were significant and all three resulted in stop‑work orders and follow‑up meetings with staff.

Why it matters: the strikes have caused service outages and, in one neighborhood, a broken water main that left residents without water for hours and required multiple crews to respond. Commissioners and residents said those consequences made stronger oversight and clearer contractor accountability urgent.

At the meeting, commissioners pressed staff on oversight, enforcement and whether the city can use its authority as both a regulator and a utility owner to prevent future damage.…