Residents urge council to study Metro Fiber permit, citing 'smart city' concerns

Several residents used the public-comment period at the May 30 St. Joseph City Council meeting to oppose a proposed permit for Metro Fiber Net LLC to place fiber-optic lines in five parks.

Virginia Wiggum said she opposed Bill 44-22 (the permit) and urged the council to research the experiences of other cities. "Please search smart city, Chattanooga, Tennessee," Wiggum said. "Chattanooga, Tennessee is fighting against this because they are finding out that they want to control your utilities and everything that comes into your home..."

Barbara Labass said she had received calls about excavation and unlabeled trucks in neighborhoods and suggested the council verify contractor identification and liability bonding before the city grants permits. "If you were a contractor, you had to have some kind of identification on your vehicle," Labass said. "Well, evidently not everyone does." She also urged caution about broader smart-city claims she associated with global organizations.

No council response or formal vote on the Metro Fiber permit was recorded during the public-comment segment; the permit was listed among bills read for first reading earlier in the meeting. The transcript contains no staff reply addressing the specific security or bonding questions raised by the speakers.

The council will consider first-reading items in subsequent meetings according to the standard ordinance process; residents asked the council to perform additional due diligence prior to advancing the Metro Fiber permit.