A CenturyLink project has disrupted utilities and damaged residents’ yards in Leesburg.
Commissioner Alan Reisman has raised constituents’ complaints about CenturyLink’s excavations on their property.
Reisman told the mayor and other commissioners last week that several District 2 residents had contacted him. They told him about the company laying the CenturyLink fiber optic cable has been tearing up yards and leaving excavated rocks on some homeowners’ yards.
City Manager Al Minner told the commissioners that he is aware of some problems with the subcontractor doing the excavating work in Leesburg. Minner explained that when CenturyLink sought to use power line poles to string the fiber optic lines above ground, technical difficulties prevented that plan. CenturyLink then agreed to a plan to place the lines underground which the City of Leesburg approved. CenturyLink moved forward with the plan so rapidly that they excavated in some areas without a clear understanding of what was in the path of the excavations. Minner said that several water and gas connections had been ruptured by the excavations including a 12-inch water main which undermined part of Center Street and U.S. Hwy. 27. City crews were able to repair the main and streets. Minner told the commissioners that the city is looking to CenturyLink for reimbursement for the repair costs. He also said several water pipes and gas lines have been damaged by the contractor and repaired by the city.
