Trumbull County officials press broadband providers for safety fixes after gas-line strike

Trumbull County commissioners convened an emergency meeting July 19 to respond to a recent string of utility strikes during fiber-optic construction that county and township officials said put residents and first responders at risk.

The meeting opened after the board said it had received letters from Holland and Bezetta townships reporting safety incidents. "We got a serious problem on our hands, and it needs to be addressed," Mike Hovis, a trustee from Bezetta Township, told the board as he read a letter reporting a hit to a 6-inch gas main on State Route 46 that sent natural gas across the roadway and disrupted traffic.

Why it matters: Township officials and residents said the incidents illustrate gaps in subcontractor oversight, locating practices and restoration after digging. Commissioners, who oversee county permitting for county roads, said they will convene providers, 8 1 1 and state regulators to pursue fixes while seeking legal guidance as needed.

Lumos, one of the providers working in the county, sent Steve Christian, market development director, to explain the company’s response. "Let me say what happened yesterday, we'll take responsibility for that," Christian said, adding that the contractor involved was no longer with the company and that Lumos is holding it accountable. He said Lumos conducts locate requests through the 8 1 1 process, uses "street sheets" listing daily crews and contact numbers, and aims to complete surface restoration within two days when possible.

Christian offered a voluntary pause: "I do say we're willing to do a 2 week pause. Let's push the pause button," he told commissioners, saying the pause would allow retraining and review of subcontractor practices. He emphasized that broadband expansion is a community benefit but said safety must come first.

State and legal pathway: State Representative David Thomas and another state representative who joined the meeting said the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) investigates utility strikes after incidents occur, and can refer matters to the Underground Technical Committee for enforcement. Trumbull County Prosecutor Bill Danso advised commissioners that many remedial powers and stop-work authorities lie with state agencies and with the UTC, though local permitting and the county engineer can help with mapping and permit details. "The remedy to what we're seeing largely does lie with the state of Ohio," Danso said, adding that PUCO and the UTC can assess marking accuracy, levy fines and order retraining.

Municipal experiences and proposals: Lehi Holmes, from Girard, said a recent mishap there injured first responders and caused a house explosion; Holmes described a municipal permitting practice that places an engineer on-site and requires reimbursement of engineering review. Ben Kyle, mayor of Hubbard, said OmniFiber has high turnover among field staff and told the commissioners Hubbard is pausing underground permits until PUCO findings are available. Kyle said Hubbard favors using municipal poles for aerial attachments rather than more risky underground bores.

Residents and repair complaints: Several residents described long waits for repairs and poor contractor follow-up. "I've been trying since last summer to get the damage done that they caused at my driveway," resident Bart Schmidt said, asking for help getting contractors to complete restoration work.

What the commission will do next: Commissioners agreed to convene a broader meeting with all providers, the county engineer’s office, 8 1 1 and state representatives to press for uniform safety practices, better contractor accountability and clearer lines of responsibility. No county-wide stop-work order was issued at the meeting; instead, Lumos pledged a voluntary two-week pause on its work in the county and the board said it will seek a legal review and pursue coordinated state engagement.

The meeting closed after a brief formal vote to adjourn, recorded as unanimous.