The Evansville Town Council has finalized a permanent franchise agreement with Visionary Communications LLC, allowing the company to construct and maintain its fiber optic network within town rights-of-way for an initial five-year term.

Agreement Details

The agreement includes a franchise fee paid to the town based on a percentage of the company’s gross revenue and requires Visionary to indemnify Evansville against any legal claims arising from the company’s installation or maintenance activities.

Town Engineer Shane Porter stated that the project involved laying fiber optic lines throughout the entire town north of Yellowstone Highway, a process that began late last summer and continued through the winter. However, the results of the project have left some residents with complaints regarding property damage caused by the installation.

During the public comment period of the council meeting, Evansville resident Jeremy Brown reported that he and several of his neighbors have seen damages related to the project and asked for an update on when repairs are expected to be completed. Mayor Ernie Blackford sympathized, saying that the company has yet to fill a hole remaining in the alleyway behind his property as well.

Town officials encouraged residents with concerns to inform Visionary representatives at their 1307 English Avenue office.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.