Cheney council gets fiber optic fire update

In the short term, Cheney’s communications system is up and running after a fire last week in an Eastern Washington University utility tunnel knocked out the city’s fiber optic system. In the long term, how long that temporary fix will remain in place, and what a permanent fix will look like, has yet to be determined.

Light Director Steve Boorman gave an update to the City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday night, Sept. 9, providing some brief details about the incident that started Aug. 31. Sparks from a cutting tool being used by a contractor doing sidewalk work in front of EWU’s snyamncut (pronounced: sin-yam-en-suit) Hall ignited the fire that burned through about 60 feet of fiber optic cable tray, knocking out all city communications and communications to a couple university buildings.

Boorman said partial service was restored after 24 hours, with full service back on line in 48 hours. He praised the efforts of all involved, not only Cheney and EWU crews but also crews from Davis Communication and CenturyTel, who teamed to help run about 2,500 feet of overhead cable to make the temporary restoration possible.

City Administrator Mark Schuller also had praise for many of those involved, specifically mentioning Finance Director Cindy Niemeier and her staff, Cheney Police Department’s director of communications Cathy Munoz, along with Fire Chief Mike Winters and Boorman and their respective crews.

“It was really a team effort to pull together and get through this thing,” Schuller said.

Boorman told council that he was scheduled to meet with EWU officials Thursday (Sept. 10) to determine what a long-term fix for the communication system might be. When asked by Councilman Chris Grover about the temporary fix, Boorman expressed confidence in its stability.

“I wouldn’t have any discomfort with having it up for a year,” he said.

In other staff reports, Public Works Director Todd Ableman said the city’s water reservoirs are finally in good shape, helped somewhat by the rain that fell on the area Labor Day weekend, which he said he heard was around seven-tenths of an inch in Cheney. Reservoir levels are stable at 28.6 feet, as of Tuesday, and Ableman said the water restrictions imposed over the summer could now be lifted, even with a forecast of hot weather returning later this week.

In the agenda’s only action item, council approved the release of an easement over a portion of Fern Street between First and Second streets. An April 1961 ordinance vacated that portion of the street, but under section two the city retained a perpetual easement over the 60-foot portion of the street.

The owner of the northeastern half of the vacated portion of Fern has asked the city to release the easement for 30 feet of that northeastern half. Ableman told the council the city has a water main running under the southwestern portion of the street, but no current utilities under the northeastern portion.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.