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Council approves one-night noise waiver for TDS fiber work after adding neighborhood notice and completion deadline
Summary
Council unanimously approved a waiver to the noise ordinance for a TDS overnight fiber installation under Russell Street, requiring neighborhood notification and an agreed completion window (authority to Public Works or completion by August 31).
Public Works staff presented a request from TDS to perform nighttime crossings at Russell Street to avoid daytime traffic disruption for a fiber-main installation. Bert Smead (Public Works) explained the Montana Department of Transportation required the crossing be at night, and that apartments lie within 500 feet of the work. Smead said nighttime work could exceed residential decibel limits for brief tasks.
Jim Harling, TDS construction manager, said crews typically complete such road crossings within four hours but schedule the full night to allow for potholing and unexpected subsurface conditions: "On most road shots, we can be done within 4 hours, but we need the whole night just in case we run into a problem at depths or any of that." Councilor Becerra moved to approve the waiver; after council discussion members added a friendly amendment to require TDS to notify residents (door hangers/signage) through Public Works and either complete the work by August 31 or allow Public Works to authorize the date. The amended motion passed unanimously.
