Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Work Notification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tallmadge residents say AT&T fiber work lacked advance notice, left yards and sidewalks unfinished
Summary
Residents told the Tallmadge City Council they were not adequately notified about AT&T fiber installation and said crews left cables, holes and poor restoration; city staff said AT&T reported work mostly complete and that Spectrum must return to repair its lines, and the city is tightening permit-notification rules.
At a Tallmadge City Council meeting, residents pressed the city about utility work by AT&T that they said proceeded without adequate advance notice and left yards and sidewalks poorly restored.
Curtis Thompson, who identified himself from the podium, said crews left cables and debris in yards and that the door-hanger notifications residents received provided little useful information. “It might seem minimal to you but… it is kind of trashy,” Thompson said, urging the city to require clearer advance notice that identifies contacts and restoration expectations.
Bruce Brown, another resident, said his household lost internet service unexpectedly and that crews were digging multiple holes in the neighborhood. “Our problem was they didn’t let us know and they didn’t care to let us know,” Brown said. He described loose orange cables along driveways and sidewalks and called the situation a safety concern.
A city staff member told the council an application and permit had been filed for the right-of-way work, and that AT&T crews reported the line installation was complete but still had splicing to finish. The staff speaker said Spectrum will have to return to repair its own lines and that the city’s permitting process requires a pre-construction bond; if contractors do not complete required repairs, the city can draw on that bond to make repairs.
City staff acknowledged the resident-notification process was “lax” in this case and said the administration is drafting clearer permit conditions requiring applicants to provide detailed resident communications and contact information. Council members asked that the administration email the council about the AT&T permit’s status and put a follow-up item on the next council agenda so members and residents receive updates.
The council did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting; staff said inspections and a post-construction punch list would be coordinated with the street or service department to make sure restoration is completed.
