Farmland plans road work tied to utility bids and weighs permit fee for broadband digs

Chair told the council that CenterPoint (the utility contractor) will put a Farmland project out to bid covering multiple streets and alleys; work timing is uncertain and may extend into next year. Members discussed coordination with state highway milling and the impact of heavy trucks and utility cuts on local streets.

Council raised repeated concerns about companies cutting streets for broadband or telecom work and taking the town’s pavement life down the road. A letter from a telecom firm seeking permission to install lines prompted discussion of whether Farmland should charge a substantial permit fee rather than a nominal permit to cover administrative overhead and future pavement repairs. Participants noted other towns charge meaningful permit fees; the council directed staff to investigate comparable fees and draft language.

Separately, Chair reported the town had obtained free cold mix and planned immediate patching for the Jackson intersection and other problem spots. Council also reviewed bids to replace hydrants and to pack millings at municipal buildings and decided to table some ambiguous or incomplete bids for clearer scopes.

Next steps: staff will check fees and permit approaches used by peer towns, draft permit language and cost models, and return with a recommendation; council will meet with engineer/contractor about pavement drainage concerns.