Verizon Poles

So after almost a half a million dollars we finally have St. George street finished and ready for public usage.  But like a teenager it has 6 pimples on it.  Seems our city engineer didn't do any due diligence and missed the fact that there were 6 poles not belonging to the City of Gonzales were on the street.  So all the money the city spent moving poles to the rear of the buildings were for not when Verizon told the city they weren't going to be good corporate citizens and either move their poles or their lines.

So the city approached them again, and for a mere $72,000 (estimated...could be a bit more), they would move the poles. 

As much as I hate that these poles are a blemish on an otherwise very inviting street, the council did right by not taking Verizon up on their offer to diminish $72,000 from our coffers.  But that's not the gest of todays blog.  Nope, as bad as all that is, it gets worse!

Now I love GVTC.  And I love that they've spent millions coming to town with fiber.  In my industry that's the Rolls Royce of providers.  But they messed up here.  Knowing good and well that the city wanted those poles moved to the rear of the buildings and out of the public eye for aesthetics, they decided to run their fiber right down the front of St George.  REALLY?

Come on guys!  Here we are trying to make a difference and instead we throw another can of trash in the street?  I thought you wanted to be good corporate citizens. I have to say that's not the way to do it. 

Maybe we can hope that Come and Take It will provide a pickup truck driven by "Bubba" that will play pinball with 6 poles down St. George.  Maybe then the City can get the poles, and their eye-sore lines where they belong on the back of St. George and out of site.

Mind you, we the taxpayers spent good money moving electricity poles and even more money and headaches getting St George looking as nice as it is, hundreds of thousands of dollars, not chump change. So I"m a bit upset at the engineer that told council it would work without checking, Verizon for not moving the poles, but even more that GVTC would run new lines down those poles. UGGGGHHHH!

Dennis

PS - I've taken a break from all blogs over the summer.  I haven't read or written any in months as it was a bit overwhelming and I needed a break.  Think it's time I got back on track though.  So if you've got some food for thought email me and I'll look into it.