A Fidelity official last week told the Gasconade County Commission that the communications company has tried to resolve the concerns of several property owners along Danz Road regarding property damage associated with the installation of fiber-optic cable.

Sam McGill, Fidelity’s director of field operations, Thursday morning told the Commission said the issues raised in recent weeks by the residents to county administrators “started as a misunderstanding. We failed, or were unsuccessful, in getting a written easement” from the property owners.

The Commission has heard twice from residents who claim their property was damaged by the contractors installing the cable. One property owner said workers damaged a fence and three cows slipped out of the pasture and, at last report to the Commission, had not been recovered, nor had the owner received a response from Fidelity about the damage.

Commissioners went to the location to view the damage and try to resolve the residents’ concerns. They noted at a later session they thought those concerns had been resolved. The issue, as Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, noted at a previous meeting, was between the residents and Fidelity and not with county government.

“I think everything on the county’s part has been taken care of,” Lairmore said at the Commission’s Oct. 5 session held in Owensville.

McGill added that workers have “made an extraordinary effort” to repair any damage to the residents’ properties. He said the company has tried to ease residents’ concerns but acknowledges that some issues remain.

“We’ve been unsuccessful with that, but contend that we have been (working) in the right-of-way,” he said.

Fidelity was supported by Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann.

“I think you guys did your due diligence,” Schulte said. But, he added, perhaps Fidelity should speak with its contractors to about not damaging private property.

McGill said Fidelity in the next three to four years will be installing 1,400 miles of fiber-optic cable to improve the quality of internet service. The company still has about 1,200 miles of cable to install in rural Franklin and Gasconade counties.

Courthouse security measures appreciated

In other matters, the presiding commissioner acknowledged efforts at the courthouse Oct. 3 that resulted in a smoothly run hearing in the capital murder case of Kenneth Lee Simpson. There was tight security at the courthouse from the start of the business day through the afternoon.

Tuesday’s hearing, which involved motions for a change of judge and a change of venue for the upcoming capital murder trial.

This hearing marked the first personal appearance for Simpson in a courtroom associated with the March 12 shooting of two Hermann policemen.

“Thanks to everybody at the courthouse,” Schulte said. “It was very efficient and a little nerve wracking.”

Shannon Howe of Howe Engineering of Macon, who met with the Commission in recent weeks, returned Thursday to bring new documents regarding the county’s Request For Qualifications (RFQ) from civil engineering firms regarding a bridge replacement project on Rohlfing Road. Howe introduced two members of his company who would be involved in the project if Howe Engineering is chosen.

Several other engineering firms have met in recent weeks with the Commission, which is in the process of selecting a new consulting engineering firm. RFQ responses are due in the County Clerk’s Office by Thursday, Oct. 19.

The Rohlfing Road bridge replacement will be a BRO (Bridge Replacement-Offsystem) project, paid for in large part with state money. Howe told the Commission his company is familiar with BRO projects and working with the state on behalf of counties.

“It’s all process driven,” he said Thursday morning. “And we know how to make that work.”

Lairmore said he thinks there will be work to be done on securing easements.

“I think there will be some easement changes on this one because we’re relocating the bridge,” he said.

Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, noted that the county is looking to keep the existing bridge open during construction of the new span. Lairmore added that when this bridge is replaced, Gasconade County will be left with only one span considered to be in “critical” condition.

On another front, County Treasurer Mike Feagan said the county’s 3-percent sales tax on marijuana became effective Oct. 1. County officials don’t know what to expect in terms of revenue, with marijuana sales legal only since voter approval last November. The first batch of revenue from the 3-percent county sales tax might be available in November with more available in December.