Commissioners deny Frontier claim and authorize legal defense; staff say evidence supports county position

DeKalb County commissioners voted March 2 to deny a claim submitted by Frontier and directed county counsel and the insurer to defend the case.

Highway staff reviewed the incident and said locators and a subcontractor (USIC) were present at the site when county crews worked; staff provided photographs and written employee statements. “I do not believe that any cables was cut by us at all that day,” a highway representative said, noting locators had been to the site several times and that the damaged cable appeared to have been disturbed after it was covered.

The claim (demand amount cited in the packet as $11,827.54) included a jury-trial demand. Counsel recommended denying the claim and pursuing defense through the insurer; commissioners agreed and directed county counsel to handle the case up to jury trial if necessary. The motion, amended to have counsel pursue defenses and to involve insurance, passed 3–0.

Next steps: counsel and insurance will evaluate documentation and proceed with defense; staff said photographic evidence and witness statements have been provided to counsel.