Darien Front Yards To Be 'Gently' Dug Up

DARIEN, IL – Darien residents got notice last month that they may see workers entering their backyards to install fiber optic cable.

This week, the city said front lawns would also be affected.

The goal is to provide better internet service.

On Monday, the City Council approved a permit for Virginia-based Lumos to install cable in the right-of-way along streets in local neighborhoods.

Last month, aldermen signed off on Indiana-based Metronet to do the same in backyard utility easements.

The city has little flexibility in such matters, with federal law giving companies the right.

"Not only will we have our backyards being very gently dug up, we also will have our front lawns dug up as well," said Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director. "Very gently, I say, and restored to 100 percent satisfaction."

Lumos representatives were on hand at Monday's council meeting. They were asked why they chose to go through the right-of-way in front yards.

In many Darien backyards, "you see a lot of fences, sheds, dogs," said Allen Rauth of Lumos. "Going through the front yard provides a consistent approach and deployment for us. We don't have to go through private property."

That approach means less disruption, but it's more expensive and potentially more time-consuming, he said.

"The hardest thing you have to do is explain to a resident that there's a public utility easement in their backyard and their fence is potentially trespassing on their own property," Rauth said. "That's one of the toughest arguments you can ever have with a community."

Like Metronet, Lumos promised to restore lawns to their original condition.

"We'll definitely fix what we break," Rauth said. "We're not here to leave the city in shambles."

The project is expected to last four years.