[Above: CenterPoint Energy personnel assist a work crew that hit a gas line Tuesday, July 1, in the public right-of-way at First Assembly of God Church in White Oak.]
A rash of response calls to fix fiber installers’ issues has bled dry the overtime hours for Public Works in the City of White’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
Community leaders are considering charging for some of the costs created by outside crews not doing their due diligence before digs in the city. Council members are poised for a vote on a related ordinance next week.
Importantly, White Oak City Coordinator Jimmy Purcell says, Sparklight has been the exception.
“Very good to work with. So far they’re the only ones that came to us at the very beginning and gave us everybody’s names and numbers and said, ‘If there’s any problems, we’ll fix it.’ The other companies really don’t do that,” he added. “They’re all trying to come in at basically the same time and put all their infrastructure in on our easements.”