TELEPHONE SWITCH BOX IN JACKSON WILL BE RELOCATED

JACKSON -- A 15-foot-long concrete pad and telephone switching terminal structure that was built directly over buried electrical lines on a city utility easement will be moved, a Jackson city alderman said Wednesday.

Ward 1 Alderman Paul Sander said Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. has agreed to move its switching terminal to private property near the city-owned utility right of way, and will erect a privacy fence around the structure to conceal it from neighbors.

The issue came up at Monday's aldermanic meeting when Sander said he was contacted by two property owners who live on Otto Drive and Charlotte Court. The property owners had complained that the telephone company built the concrete pad and switching terminal in their backyards.

City officials investigated the matter and discovered the telephone company had also put the 15-foot-wide concrete pad directly over underground power lines.

City officials were also unhappy over the fact the telephone company did not contact them in advance about plans to build the structure on the city's right of way.

"The telephone company dropped the ball on this one," said Sander. "They erred in not checking with the city first to find out what was located under the easement, and to let us know what was going on.

"But I will say that once it was called to their attention, they were most cooperative and went out of their way to resolve the issue in an orderly-like manner. They were also most cooperative with me, as a city official, and the property owners involved."

Sander said the telephone company has agreed to relocate the terminal box on property owned by Richard Sauer, and place a decorative privacy fence around it.

"They (telephone company) have also agreed to contact us if they want to place anymore of these switching terminals on our utility easements," Sander continued. "They also informed me that they do not plan to put these terminals all over town."

Still to be decided is whether the telephone company must apply for a building permit from the city to erect any other switching terminals on city property. Sander said that issue is being researched by the city attorney, who will report back to the board May 20.