Board approves residential entrance and utility permits, including major Lamont Telephone fiber run

At its Feb. 10 meeting the Jackson County Board of Supervisors approved multiple driveway and utility right-of-way permits, including residential entrances for Brian Jaster (Centerville Road, Prairie Springs Township) and Adam Fear (45th Street, Van Buren Township) and utility permits for Maquoketa Valley and Lamont Telephone Company.

Roads staff told the board the Jaster permit meets sight-distance requirements but will require a culvert outside the county right-of-way because a creek runs adjacent to the driveway. The board approved that permit after staff recommendation.

The board also approved an underground fiber permit for Maquoketa Valley to bore beneath 188th Street (Farmers Creek Township) after staff confirmed boring depths and parcel information. The meeting included more extensive discussion of a Lamont Telephone Company project to install new fiber along 308th Street and to a junction at 395th Avenue. Staff said Lamont had shifted a proposed junction box west to avoid conflict with a planned county roadway project so the company would not need a later relocation. "They have set their hand hole or junction box further west to be out of any conflict," the staff member said; with that accommodation the department recommended approval and the board carried the motion.

The approvals included standard conditions (sight-distance, culvert where noted, and coordination with county roadway projects). Staff said they will continue to coordinate locations and right-of-way impacts and to notify property owners if fence relocation letters are required.