Fiber Optic Installation Creates Havoc at Gilbert Residence

Tamara Heideman’s home became the scene of an unfortunate incident when construction crews damaged her sewage line while installing a fiber optic network in her Gilbert neighborhood. She is not alone in facing the fallout from this ambitious project aimed at enhancing internet speeds for residents.

As the rollout of fiber optic internet continues across Arizona, residents in the East Valley are expressing dissatisfaction with the disruptions caused by these installations. Heideman encapsulates this sentiment.

“Your home is your safe place, your refuge,” she remarked. “It wasn’t peaceful.”

Heideman, a single mother of three, had to rush home from work in August after her daughter reported a foul odor permeating their home. What awaited her was a flooded downstairs bedroom and damage in various parts of the house. The source? A ruined sewage line.

“I still have memories of chocolate brown water,” she recalled, referring to the bathroom flooding. Her unsettling situation was clarified when a plumber learned that the excavation company responsible for the damage had admitted fault.

“We were in this house a few days ago and we probably broke it,” she quoted the subcontractors, who were hired by Tilson. They are part of a project with AT&T’s Gigapower to install an advanced fiber optic network in Gilbert, much to Heideman’s surprise.

The Town of Gilbert benefits financially from this project, with an estimated income of around $90,000 annually. Over two decades, this figures could amass to more than $7.9 million.

“It disrupted our lives tremendously,” Heideman added. The chaos forced her family to temporarily leave their home while remediation was underway.

Facing high temperatures without adequate shelter was just one more challenge in this ordeal. Heideman described her house as being partially covered with plastic sheeting and zippers during the cleanup, leaving parts of it exposed to the elements.

Compounding her woes, Heideman struggled with the insurance claim process, feeling as if she were being blamed for the damage. “You’re being treated like it’s my fault,” she said, reflecting her frustration.

In late October, the nightmare recurred for another Gilbert resident, Nicole Flood, whose home also experienced sewage flooding from the same fiber project. Flood expressed concern over potential financial loss even after her insurance coverage, which only partially compensated for damages.

“It’s going to be tens of thousands of dollars that we end up losing unless somebody reimburses us,” Flood explained.

These incidents are not isolated. Many residents have reached out, detailing various problems stemming from the fiber optic construction, including property damage. Gilbert resident Nicole Flood voiced her frustration about the lack of accountability from the involved companies and the town.

“Gilbert’s making money hand over fist on this whole thing, and yet homeowners don’t have the right of way to their own property,” she commented.

Residents raised their concerns with Town Councilmember Yung Koprowski in December. He acknowledged their struggles but reiterated that the onus lies on the contractors involved. “We deeply empathize with [residents],” Koprowski stated.

Despite Heideman’s attempts to seek assistance from town officials, she feels abandoned. “Where are you? You cannot not care. You have been elected to care,” she implored.

Heideman eventually reached a settlement with the insurance company in November. Now, she contemplates how to rebuild her home and life. With her daughter’s 18th birthday approaching, the urgency to restore her home weighs heavily on her.

“We come home every day at the end of the day to our destroyed home hoping that maybe tomorrow will be the day that we get drywall,” she lamented, reflecting a bittersweet hope.

In a response to complaints, the Town of Gilbert clarified its limited role in the construction project. “The town aims to ensure that the proposed construction complies with its standards before granting approval,” a spokesperson said. “Upon becoming aware of resident concerns regarding the quality of restoration work, the town immediately contacted the contractors involved.”

Tilson responded later, stating they were unaware of Heideman’s case until contacted by the media. They emphasized a commitment to maintaining open lines of communication with residents throughout the process.

“Tilson only works with licensed and bonded subcontractors, and we address any construction issues as soon as we are informed of them,” a spokesperson stated. They emphasized the importance of communication and taking swift action when reported problems arise.

Gigapower asserted its commitment to the Gilbert community and encouraged homeowners to reach out for resolution in case of damages. They highlighted their standard remediation process aimed at restoring properties to their original condition.

For residents experiencing issues related to the fiber installations, relevant contact information is provided, encouraging communication with both the contractors and town officials.