Town Council Says Leesburg Utility Line Cuts Caused By Poor Location Service
July 10, 2018 at 5:47 p.m.
Town Council Says Leesburg Utility Line Cuts Caused By Poor Location Service
By David [email protected]
USIC is the multistate company that locates utilities before any digging is done.
Council President Tom Moore asked Monday night at the town council meeting for someone to explain to him the “definition of the problem.”
Derek Tenney, of Tenney & Sons, which provides septic services for the town, answered, “Right now we have two pods, two sewer lines, that have been cut. Power lines that have been cut because USIC did not locate them at all. We went to the job site and they actually had a flag that said all clear for NIPSCO gas and electric on one, and they built a new building and cut right through the power wires.
“Luckily, the sewer discharge is the other way so they didn’t cut into that. Then we have another one they drilled in a new well, put a new well down. They trenched a hydrant to go out back and they cut through the power lines for sure. I have a very sneaky suspicion that they cut right through the sewer discharge as well.”
Moore asked if there was proof that USIC was called. Tenney said yes and that he contacted USIC Monday morning and “they did state that they were both called and that they had gone out and located everything on site.” But, he said, property owners told him there was no striping or flags in the area to indicate where power lines would be.
Tenney said Derry Electric came and located one of them and was supposed to locate the other Monday.
Moore said the process was more important than what was being given credit. “Because we have to have proof that they were called. Because if they failed to do their job, then we have recourse to go after them,” Moore said.
“We have an invoice from USIC for $1,085.28. I’m not in practice, and I don’t think any of the other board members are, of paying people for not doing their job,” Moore said.
Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said he reviewed the property at 115 E. Prairie St. before they dug. It had been marked two weeks before any digging took place and he said there were no green flags in the alley but there was an “all-clear” tag. Where the building was placed, he said there were no green flags, no power lines or anything.
Doug Jones, councilman, said the town still has a contract with USIC. “In the past, if you have three individuals come to your home to do work, all three individuals will call USIC and we are billed three times for that property. In the day of computers, I would think they would be able to track when they’ve been to somewhere.”
He said he wanted to see what the town’s contract with USIC had to say.
Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss provided a copy of the contract to Jones, who said he’d review it.
Charlton said he thought USIC might be identifying sewer line runs, but wasn’t tracing the power lines.
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Tenney presented the council with a request to purchase a utility locator machine, and he had two quotes for the piece of equipment. The company he recommended provides a free one-year warranty, free on-site training once a year, 24/7 support, a loaner if the equipment breaks down and free software upgrade for the lifetime of the machine.
Charlton said the equipment would be used as a fail-safe and the town would not do the job of USIC.
Councilwoman Christina Archer was in favor of the purchase, she said, because, “That way we know what’s going on. And when we need to find something, we can.”
The council approved Tenney’s recommendation to purchase a utility locator for $4,553.29.
In other business, the council:
• Held a public hearing on vacating an alley as requested by housemates Michael VanOsdol, Larry Rose and Bill Poe.
They bought the property at 109 Van Buren St., which is next to another property they own, and they want to vacate the alley between the two lots so they can combined them into one lot.
There were no remonstrators. Landis said their next step is to present an ordinance to the town council for approval, which will then be recorded.
• Heard from Charlton that the Prairie Street storage building needs a new roof. The current roof is over 25 years old. He is getting quotes for the roof work.
• Heard from Charlton that Phend & Brown has been contacted about grinding and paving Prairie Street west of Ind. 15 to the cemetery. He emphasized the bricks on the road will not be touched.
• Heard from Assistant Scoutmaster Lonnie Fisher that Boy Scout Troop 729 will build a temporary handicapped ramp at 209 W. Van Buren St. for a 10-year-old girl as an Eagle Scout project. The council said no permits were required.
• Announced the 2019 budget workshop is at 6:30 p.m. July 17, and the next regular meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13.
USIC is the multistate company that locates utilities before any digging is done.
Council President Tom Moore asked Monday night at the town council meeting for someone to explain to him the “definition of the problem.”
Derek Tenney, of Tenney & Sons, which provides septic services for the town, answered, “Right now we have two pods, two sewer lines, that have been cut. Power lines that have been cut because USIC did not locate them at all. We went to the job site and they actually had a flag that said all clear for NIPSCO gas and electric on one, and they built a new building and cut right through the power wires.
“Luckily, the sewer discharge is the other way so they didn’t cut into that. Then we have another one they drilled in a new well, put a new well down. They trenched a hydrant to go out back and they cut through the power lines for sure. I have a very sneaky suspicion that they cut right through the sewer discharge as well.”
Moore asked if there was proof that USIC was called. Tenney said yes and that he contacted USIC Monday morning and “they did state that they were both called and that they had gone out and located everything on site.” But, he said, property owners told him there was no striping or flags in the area to indicate where power lines would be.
Tenney said Derry Electric came and located one of them and was supposed to locate the other Monday.
Moore said the process was more important than what was being given credit. “Because we have to have proof that they were called. Because if they failed to do their job, then we have recourse to go after them,” Moore said.
“We have an invoice from USIC for $1,085.28. I’m not in practice, and I don’t think any of the other board members are, of paying people for not doing their job,” Moore said.
Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said he reviewed the property at 115 E. Prairie St. before they dug. It had been marked two weeks before any digging took place and he said there were no green flags in the alley but there was an “all-clear” tag. Where the building was placed, he said there were no green flags, no power lines or anything.
Doug Jones, councilman, said the town still has a contract with USIC. “In the past, if you have three individuals come to your home to do work, all three individuals will call USIC and we are billed three times for that property. In the day of computers, I would think they would be able to track when they’ve been to somewhere.”
He said he wanted to see what the town’s contract with USIC had to say.
Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss provided a copy of the contract to Jones, who said he’d review it.
Charlton said he thought USIC might be identifying sewer line runs, but wasn’t tracing the power lines.
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Tenney presented the council with a request to purchase a utility locator machine, and he had two quotes for the piece of equipment. The company he recommended provides a free one-year warranty, free on-site training once a year, 24/7 support, a loaner if the equipment breaks down and free software upgrade for the lifetime of the machine.
Charlton said the equipment would be used as a fail-safe and the town would not do the job of USIC.
Councilwoman Christina Archer was in favor of the purchase, she said, because, “That way we know what’s going on. And when we need to find something, we can.”
The council approved Tenney’s recommendation to purchase a utility locator for $4,553.29.
In other business, the council:
• Held a public hearing on vacating an alley as requested by housemates Michael VanOsdol, Larry Rose and Bill Poe.
They bought the property at 109 Van Buren St., which is next to another property they own, and they want to vacate the alley between the two lots so they can combined them into one lot.
There were no remonstrators. Landis said their next step is to present an ordinance to the town council for approval, which will then be recorded.
• Heard from Charlton that the Prairie Street storage building needs a new roof. The current roof is over 25 years old. He is getting quotes for the roof work.
• Heard from Charlton that Phend & Brown has been contacted about grinding and paving Prairie Street west of Ind. 15 to the cemetery. He emphasized the bricks on the road will not be touched.
• Heard from Assistant Scoutmaster Lonnie Fisher that Boy Scout Troop 729 will build a temporary handicapped ramp at 209 W. Van Buren St. for a 10-year-old girl as an Eagle Scout project. The council said no permits were required.
• Announced the 2019 budget workshop is at 6:30 p.m. July 17, and the next regular meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13.
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