Skip to main content

Fiber optics being installed in Warren

Fiber optic service is coming to Warren.

Citizens Telephone Corp. has begun installing fiber optic cables in a test neighborhood, Citizens Telephone representative Neal Laymon told members of the Warren Town Council on Monday, March 10.

"It's mainly for Internet speed," Laymon said. "It will allow unlimited Internet speeds."

The century-old Citizens Telephone provides cable television and Internet service in Warren, as well as telephone service.

The new fiber optic cables will all be buried, Laymon said. Installation crews are working with town employees to locate underground utilities, many of which are in unknown locations, he said. Citizens Telephone will pay for any damage caused to town utilities during the installation process, he added.

The first homes should have fiber optic service up and running by early summer, Laymon said. Once the bugs are worked out, he said, the service will be expanded to other areas of town.

Also Monday, council members received an update on activities of the Youth Services Bureau of Huntington County.

YSB Executive Director Jan Williams said her agency's major emphasis for 2014 will be expanding its outreach services to youth who are runaways, homeless or suicidal.

"We have a big population of youth who couch surf," Williams said.

The YSB wants to offer those youth resources in developing life skills and finding permanent housing.

The YSB is looking for ways to continue supporting youth after age 18, when traditional funding sources cut off, until age 20 or 21, Williams said.

Town crews will attempt to repair a wind-damaged fence at Schwob Field in Tower Park, council decided.

The fence is just a year old, council member Barb Trosper said, and both the chain link and the posts - along with two signs - were damaged by wind.

If the town crews can't make proper repairs, the town will look into filing an insurance claim to have the fence repaired or replaced.

Utility Manager Lee Poulson said the town is facing some major expenses, including purchasing a bigger dump truck, repairing or replacing the fencing and gate around the utility area and moving or constructing a new utility building.

Poulson will continue to work on cost estimates for the projects.