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Commissioners briefed on Mercury Broadband construction, reported water-meter and manhole damage
Summary
County staff told commissioners Mercury Broadband's rapid construction pace has overwhelmed line-locate services, leading to incidents in July that included hit water meters and drilled-through manholes; companies are discussing restitution and improved coordination.
County staff said a large meeting with Mercury Broadband, contractors, utilities and state representatives highlighted critical coordination problems as broadband construction accelerates. The county's presentation documented multiple July incidents in which crews struck county infrastructure, including water meters and manholes, and staff said they are seeking restitution and improved line-locate coordination.
A county official said the construction pace has overwhelmed line-locate services and forced daily commitments of water-department staff to handle locates: "We've we've been designating 1 water waste water employee every day, all day just to do 1 locates for Mercury Broadband," he said. The county said contractors are bringing in drill rigs at a pace local locators cannot match and that the working group will meet again to align schedules and restoration plans; officials expressed concern about safety near high-voltage lines and about timely property restoration for residents whose yards were flagged or disturbed during locating work.
