Franklin County Commissioners reviewed and approved a modification to the utility permit issued to Charter Communications at its Aug. 9 meeting.

Franklin County surveyor Rob Seig explained he had been meeting with Charter Communications regarding the roll-out of its Spectrum fiber optic internet service over the past couple of weeks. Charter's permit requires the fiber cable to be laid at a depth of 48 inches, which is causing some problems for Charter's contractors. Trenching to 48 inches put the contractors' equipment precariously close to many of the drainage tiles buried throughout the county; additionally, the power required to trench to that depth puts a significant amount of vibration into the ground, potentially damaging fragile clay tiles without ever touching it. Seig suggests by reducing the required depth of the fiber optic run, it will prevent damage to existing infrastructure.

Commissioner Tom Wilson asked how deep they planned to go, Seig replied 30 inches. Commissioner Gerald Wendel asked if it would interfere with existing communication infrastructure or if the county needed to install a culvert. Seig replied they will be able to locate existing copper based infrastructure easily and avoid it. Charter representative Chris Patrick answered Wendel's second question. stating Charter will relocate fiber lines if it is in the way of road maintenance if notified ahead of time, at no cost to the county. 

Wilson asked if they are wanting to run at a 30 inch depth through the entire county or just where the field tiles are located. Seig replied he originally was going to request 30 inches to avoid tiles, but after discussing it with Charter, being able to run at 30 inches will allow them to avoid hitting rock in many areas and expedite installation. Patrick noted water lines in the county are at 36 inches, prompting the decision to go for 30 inches. Wilson asked how the lines were being marked, Patrick replied the lines are marked with white four-foot posts with an orange topper.

Wilson asked Patrick to bring a proposal to county legal counsel Grant Reeves to review.

County engineer Larry Smith brought concerns about pedestals installed within six inches of the road in Bath Township. Charter construction manager Eric Manning replied the issue has been addressed with contractors prior to the meeting and will be rectified. Seig noted contractors were attempting to keep hardware within the county right-of-way, but it was found to be too close to the roadway and will be moved.

Also discussed:
-J. Steven J. Cox brought an issue to commissioners regarding a benefit payout of a retiring court reporter. The benefits were paid out of the court's payroll budget line, while it is typically paid out of county council's contingency line. Cox noted he was not sure of the exact process of paying out benefits, but knows the way it  was processed was incorrect, commissioners tabled the matter to review with county council and county auditor Karla Bauman.

-Reeves addressed the need for an update to the county's building code, which is decades old and in need of revision. Reeves recommended hiring a specialist with a contract not to exceed $5,000, who he has worked with in Rushville. The contractor will rewrite the county's building code and update the unsafe building ordinance to match. 

-Commissioners approved an amendment to the county's procedure for American Rescue Plan funds. The federal funding requires special record keeping processes which the county passed on to the recipients of funding disbursements. Upon review, it was determined the county would be better served keeping those reporting tasks within the county government with the oversight of Bauman, Franklin County Economic Development Commission president John Palmer and the county's financial consultant Reedy Financial Group.

-Commissioners approved a request for a request for a building permit in Metamora's historic district. Danny Richardson plans to relocate the “Rainman cabins” from their current location near the old Hearthstone Restaurant to a vacant lot in Metamora. The permit requires approval of commissioners due to the location within the historic district, Richardson must now receive approval for the permit from Franklin County Area Planning.

-Franklin County Council member and former county surveyor Joe Gillespie brought a request to commissioners for his neighbor Alan Graf. Graf and his family have built four homes on a private drive off Richland Creek Road and in accordance with the county's address ordinance, the private drive was named White Pine Drive and the four homes given White Pine Drive addresses. Since then, all four households have experienced problems receiving parcel deliveries, school bus service and 911 routing. The Grafs are requesting their address revert back to Richland Creek Road. Resident Mildred Simmermeyer noted her household, and many in county, have problems with emergency vehicle routing as well.

“That's true, but we can fix this one,” said Wilson before making a motion to approve reverting White Pine Drive addresses. Commissioners voted to approve.