Verizon request denied (08/07/07)

A communications company wants permission to use a right of way near the Randolph County line to lay cable, but Jay County Commissioners want something in return.

Commissioners have denied Verizon's request for now, because they want the company to move a utility box that blocks an entryway to a property owned by Dolphus and Nancy Cooper, 4118 South 1100 West, Dunkirk. Commissioners said the property to which access is being blocked is located at 4152 South 1100 West.

Verizon wants the county's blessing to work on the right of way of a section of county road 900 South, between county roads 600 and 700 West.

Commissioners said they heard complaints from Dolphus Cooper earlier this year about the placement of the utility box.

"They thought they'd have to play ball with him," Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said. "Maybe they'll have to play ball with us.

"Verizon wants something from us. Now it's time to compromise."

Miller spoke with a Verizon representative via telephone during the commissioners' Monday afternoon session, but the parties failed to reach an agreement for how to solve the conflict. He asked a representative from the company to visit commissioners during an upcoming meeting.

"They're going to need to come and see us on this one," Commissioner Gary Theurer said.

Separately, commissioners granted EMBARQ access to use a right of way on 700 East, continuing 300 feet north of New Cordyon Road.

In other business, commissioners extended a lease of ground at the Jay County Retirement Center to Dues and Sons farming. The new lease runs from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2010.

According to the contract, crop production costs will be shared equally between the county and Dues and Sons.

Brad Dues, who signed the new lease, said the land at the retirement center consists of "220 tillable acres."[[In-content Ad]]