The city of Brookhaven and Google Fiber are in talks after a stop work order was issued on Dec. 14 after workers ruptured a gas main next to Montgomery Elementary School during school hours.
Mayor John Park said the ruptured line was not the first incident in Brookhaven caused by Google Fiber, and it won’t be the last.
“Brookhaven does not have the authority to preclude the eventual installation of Google Fiber as a utility. However, we can and will use every measure to ensure the health and safety of all Brookhaven residents and visitors as the installation proceeds,” Park said.
For months, residents have been complaining about disruptions in utilities like water and gas, and destruction of landscaping in the right-of-way. On Nov. 21, Google Fiber hit a waterline while digging in the right-of-way on Loraine Street. Property owner Brent Mlott, who is upset that his landscaping was dug up, said nobody wants Google Fiber.
“I put new sod out there this summer. They’re out there trampling it down, ripping it up, digging into it. It’s frustrating that nobody has the option of opting out,” Mlott said.
Park said that Google Fiber “routinely hitting other utilities are dangerous and extremely disruptive” which was the reason for the stop work order being issued. The complete stop work order has halted digging, boring, installation, testing, repair, and clean up.
“While Google Fiber has followed the law in regard to requesting utility markings, it just has not been enough. A huge factor in the number of hits has been the accuracy of the markings provided by the other existing utility locators,” Park said.
Brookhaven is allowing some activities to continue while best practices are still being ironed out.
Effective immediately, Google Fiber can resume all activities that are not associated with boring or digging. Regular work may resume on Monday, Jan. 6 if conditions are met.
The utility giant has been tasked with improving coordination with other utility companies and using radar to avoid hitting existing lines.
Jorge Gomez, Brookhaven’s Public Works director, is meeting with Google Fiber and contractors to emphasize the need for a thorough utility review prior to digging. Moving forward, Google Fiber must submit for approval the areas where new directional bores or digging will take place. New areas will not be approved until prior areas have been completed and fully restored, the city said.
The city said Google Fiber is being attentive and responsive to concerns.
“Conversations about how to minimize impacts going forward are taking place and I feel like we are making progress,” Park said.
“GFiber is working with the Brookhaven staff and our construction vendors to take every precaution to minimize future construction disruptions,” a Google Fiber spokesperson said.
“Our team is continuing to work with other underground utility operators to improve the quality and accuracy of their locating processes. We ask residents who have concerns to reach out to us at 877-454-6959.”