Mayor says 'rude subcontractors' broke gate locks, allowed animals to escape and painted willy-nilly

Image from MetroNet video shows temporary paint used to mark existing utility lines. Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said employees of a MetroNet subcontractor painted the lines on personal items in yards, broke gate locks and let animals escape.

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift says he has warned MetroNet, which is installing high-speed fiber optic cable to every home in Midway, that he will not tolerate what he called "rude subcontractors."

Vandegrift said residents reported that workers locating existing utility lines Tuesday broke padlocks off a few residents’ gates; left several gates open, allowing animals to escape; and spray-painted line markers over personal items in yards rather than leaving a small gap in the line.

"While these were not employees of MetroNet, but rather other utility companies, I still hold MetroNet responsible, as it is their project," Vandegrift told the Messenger. "If they want to follow up with the utility companies that didn't act in good faith, so be it, but we can't allow the blame game."

This is not the first time he has heard MetroNet has been called out for rude subcontractors, the mayor said.

"I've heard many rumblings of ham-handed subcontract work by residents in Lexington and Versailles," he said. "I want to avoid those stories here. I believe so many of these issues could be solved by communication, and I was disappointed I wasn't contacted by MetroNet before the locators began on Tuesday, as I could have warned residents to unlock padlocks and beware of locators needing to access their property.

Vandegrift said he had a productive conversation Thursday morning with MetroNet's executive regional vice president, government-affairs liaison and its project manager to help clear the air.

"I believe they understand that we are a city that prides itself in keeping our residents in the loop at all times,” he said, “and that we'll demand that employees and subcontractors be respectful and communicate with residents as well."

The mayor said he made it clear that during the current trying times, there's no room for disrespecting the properties of Midway residents.

"During a pandemic, when people are more stressed, and in some cases already feel overburdened by government right now, it is important that folks feel that people entering their property are respectful, as little intrusive as possible, and that bury utility lines with respect to people's gardens and personal property as best as possible while properly using the utility easements," he said.

He added later, "They were very receptive to the sensitive nature of the current circumstances, and I believe they will make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again."

The mayor acknowledged that there is little he can do but object. He said he could use his emergency powers under the pandemic to "exclude all nonessential, unauthorized, disruptive, or uncooperative personnel from the scene of the emergency," but that would only delay installation, "and I certainly don’t even want to have to go there. I did want to get their attention, and luckily I did."

Vandegrift said he remains confident that the project will end up being a boon to the town and bring much-needed improvement for telecommunication services in Midway, as early as August.

"I believe firmly that MetroNet will bring a much needed new competitor to our city for internet, phone, and television,” he said. "Their use of fiber optic line is a true 21st century technology that will be here for a long time."

Vandegrift said MetroNet is “very committed to restoration” and has promised these steps for better service going forward:

●  Use the “path that is least intrusive” within the easement, and two feet from existing utilities, to avoid disrupting service.

●  Do anything they can to go around trees, gardens, or other personal items.

●  Residents can call two different numbers with any concern. MetroNet will open a “ticket” with each call to track progress and fix any issues.

●  When a trench is dug to bury cable, they will seed and straw. If they don’t do it to your satisfaction, you can call 859-785-1107 or 1-877-386-3876 and they will do it to your liking.

●  If a planting of any kind is disrupted, they will replace it to your specification.

●  If a garden is in the easement and they can’t go around it, they will bore underneath, to avoid tearing it up.

●  Subcontractors will be briefed and reminded on a regular basis that in general, everyone is more stressed now than usual, so they need to be mindful of that.

●  A local man, Doug Haney, will be in charge of local engineers and overseeing the subcontractors, and will be someone who can assist you with any issues.

●  As any issues arise call either 859-785-1107 or 1-877-386-3876; both are customer service lines, and MetroNet is committed to making residents satisfied once this more intrusive phase is over.

Vandegrift said he urges anyone to contact him directly if any issues occur.

MetroNet has a short video describing the installation process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca30L1RAMNI&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop. 

Airdrie Stud and one of Ouita Michel's restaurants are part of food show to air on KET Friday at 9:30 p.m.

Airdrie Stud and Ouita Michel's Smithtown Seafood restaurant are shown the next episode of "Somewhere South," a new food series on KET, which airs Friday at 9:30 p.m.

Jacalyn Carfagno writes for the Lexington Herald-Leader, "The episode shows Howard exploring the Sri Lankan pickles Samantha Fore makes to add spice and crunch to her Tuk Tuk bites, pickled catfish escabeche Smithtown Seafood's Agnes Marrero adapted from her Puerto Rican roots. . . . Beautifully shot and edited, the Kentucky portion also takes viewers to Airdrie Stud in Midway (“everything I imagined horse country to be,” Howard says in the show) and to Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto."

“It was one of my favorite shoots of the whole season,” Howard told Carfagno in an interview from her home in eastern North Carolina.

Read more here: https://www.kentucky.com/lexgoeat/food/article241867711.html#storylink=cpy

Message from the mayor: New internet, phone and TV provider will soon start running lines all over town

"Anyone with a small sign in their yard can expect subcontractors for MetroNet to be doing some form of construction through the utility easement that they also have access to," Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift says in his Message from the Mayor.

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway

MetroNet will soon begin the construction phase of installing high speed fiber optic cable to every home in Midway. When this is done, each citizen will have a new option for cable, internet, and phone access.

However, I want to make each of you aware that I expect this phase to have a few bumps, and I think the better prepared we are the smoother we can make it. Where utility poles exist, MetroNet will be running their cable along those poles, but each property in town will also have a fiber optic line running into their yard, and that will still require a small ditch in many yards. Neighborhoods with buried utilities will have everything run underground, and many yards, if not most, will have a ditch as well. All ditches will be patched with seed and straw and will eventually be good as new, but I do expect that not everyone will be in love with the process.

But, in the end, this will provide more options, and competition means better services for our citizens. Anyone with a small sign in their yard can expect subcontractors for MetroNet to be doing some form of construction through the utility easement that they also have access to. This means that employees will be legally allowed to enter premises so long as they’re on that easement, in order to complete their work. As jarring as it sounds, employees can enter a back yard with a privacy fence, but again, only to bury their cable along the easement.

I’ve been in close contact with Kris Smith, the governmental affairs liaison with MetroNet, and with their construction team, and they’ve committed to us that they’ll do their utmost to make this construction phase as smooth as possible.

This can be a difficult process, and it’s possible that other lines could be inadvertently hit, temporarily disrupting service. Although we hope that doesn’t happen, it’s something everyone should be prepared for. MetroNet has repeatedly assured that they will do everything to solve any situation as quickly as possible. The small yard signs in resident’s yards give a phone number they can call anytime to address concerns.

I’m confident that once the fiber optic is in place, this will be a great improvement for the city and for our citizens. Recent studies have shown that having fiber optic cable directly to one’s home, even if the current occupant doesn’t use it, can raise the home’s value as much as 3%. Anecdotally, in a world where streaming is becoming the norm, I believe these studies to be very plausible in their findings.

The direct number for MetroNet, posted on their yard signs, is 877-386-3876. Folks can also visit MetroNetInc.com/construction for more information.