Butler County approves permits for Dumont Telephone fiber build and REC underground service

The Butler County Board of Supervisors approved several utility permits at its April 30 meeting after presentations from the county engineer and a Dumont Telephone representative.

Roger Kregel, representing Dumont Telephone, told the board the company is pursuing a fiber network build in the Austinville area and that additional permit applications will follow as crews advance through the county. County Engineer John Riherd recommended approval of the Dumont permit; the board approved the request on a motion by Supervisor Greg Barnett and a second from Supervisor Rusty Eddy with an unanimous aye vote.

The board also approved two underground service permits from Butler County REC: one to 13801 Marsh Ave and another to 29840 Superior Road. Riherd outlined each REC project and recommended approval. The Marsh Ave permit was approved on a motion by Barnett, seconded by Eddy; the Superior Road permit was approved on a motion by Barnett, seconded by Chairman Wayne Dralle. All permit motions carried with all ayes.

The meeting record notes that some rural areas are not covered by the current grant funding cited by the telephone representative, and that additional permits will be submitted as the network expansion continues.