City staff report multiple cuts to Valpo Net fiber; MOU with utilities and permanent repairs planned

City staff told the Redevelopment Commission on Jan. 8 that a contractor working in a county right-of-way cut Valpo Net fiber in September and then continued work that led to additional breaks along a stretch of Division Road.

"The fiber got cut, and then the fatal mistake the subcontractor made is they then picked up from there and continued to make six additional cuts to our fiber to the point that the whole thing needs to be replaced in this stretch of Division Road," staff member George said, describing the incident and a subsequent temporary repair.

Staff reported that the contractor held a valid county right-of-way permit and that updated fiber maps were missing from the permit request, complicating utility coordination. As immediate steps, staff said they will enroll Valpo Net as a member of Indiana 811, coordinate with third-party locating vendors and utilities to update maps and work with the city attorney to draft memoranda of understanding clarifying responsibilities for locating infrastructure and preventing future damage.

George told the commission that quotes for a permanent repair will be obtained and returned to the commission once available; a temporary fix remains in place. Commissioners commended the response and a root-cause review; staff said costs and membership fees for Indiana 811 are expected to be minor.

No formal action was required at the meeting; staff will bring back drafting of the MOU and a proposal for permanent repairs for commission ratification if needed.