Whenever employees of the County Highway Department or the County Sheriff’s Department find the property of a utility company, including utility poles, utility structures, transmission or distribution wires, guy wires, transformers, regulators, meters, or other appurtenances are damaged and are obstructing, interfering or about to interfere with roadway travel, snow or debris removal operations or other emergency operations, they shall cause the appropriate utility company operator to be notified of the obstructing property. The utility company operator shall take immediate and necessary action to render property or components safe and to facilitate removal of the property or components from the roadway.
(A) A knowledgeable employee shall be dispatched to each reported site where damaged utility property obstructs roadways in a timely manner.
(B) The employee shall take necessary steps to de-energize the affected damaged utility system or otherwise render the damaged system safe for the removal of components which obstruct roadways.
(C) When the affected damaged utility system is de-energized or otherwise rendered safe, the employee or utility operator shall report this information to the County Highway Department and/or the Sheriff’s Department and will coordinate any further debris clearance procedures as required.
(Ord. 2011-24-CM, passed 10-17-11)