Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Frankfort adopts ordinance requiring permits for right-of-way excavations
Summary
The council approved an ordinance to require permits and standards for right-of-way excavations, aiming to prevent contractors from leaving streets and sidewalks unrepaired after utility work, and to centralize oversight of restoration requirements.
The West Frankfort City Council voted Jan. 27 to adopt an ordinance establishing permitting requirements for right-of-way excavations within city limits.
Council members said the measure was intended to replace an ad-hoc practice that sometimes allowed contractors to do work without standardized restitution. "Instead of the process we had ... companies would come in and tear things up and not put them back the way they needed to be and then we had to deal with the fallout from that," a presenter who initiated the ordinance said. He added the ordinance puts clearer obligations on contractors and shifts some responsibilities within city staff to ensure compliance.
The council approved the ordinance by roll call with all recorded votes in favor. Supporters said the new rules create a consistent standard for what contractors must repair and how the city will enforce restoration; county or state approvals were not discussed. The ordinance was described in the meeting as giving the city a say in work done in the public right-of-way and establishing protection and accountability measures for infrastructure.
The council did not read the ordinance line-by-line in open session; staff indicated the ordinance and related materials are available in the meeting packet and online.
