Residents from the Ballantrae neighborhood attended the Dec. 15 Flossmoor board meeting to voice their concerns about the AT&T fiber optic cable installation project going on throughout the village. They are not the first residents to voice concerns.
Public Works Director John Brunke said the fiber infrastructure is being installed in the public right-of-way and in public utility easements on private property. The village approved the permit on July 9, 2025, with the understanding that work would begin in November. AT&T has a year to complete the project.
Residents Linda Franklin, Lonnie Small, Donald Ray and Norma Adams spoke during public comment about being unaware of the project and their surprise at seeing workers digging on their property.
Brunke said AT&T should be using door hangers to notify residents of work in their neighborhood. AT&T was to notify residents 30 days in advance but he said that hasn’t been happening. Sometimes residents get a day’s notice.
The residents claim workers cut cable and internet services to some of the homes.
Donald Ray said several weeks ago he was looking out of his kitchen windows and saw four people digging and spraying in his yard. When he went to ask them what they were doing, he was told that AT&T was laying a cable in the ground. He was not aware of the project.
“The first question is, was anybody notified?” Ray said. “Should have been notified and was anyone notified that they will come out and dig? Much to my surprise.”
Lonnie Small said his cable line was cut. He couldn’t work on his computer. He went out and asked the workers about getting his connection back. They initially said it would be fixed, but later in the day they told him management would be contacted about the needed repairs.
“Who’s responsible for getting my cable up?” Small said. “Who is going to reimburse me for this time?”
Small’s neighbor spoke briefly, claiming when she spoke to the people who came to spray and mark the property the workers did not seem to care if they damaged anything.
Troy Holmes said an AT&T representative attended the community’s November homeowners association meeting to notify residents the company would start digging in their backyards.
Holmes said the community is actively getting a list of names of people impacted to hopefully work with the village and AT&T on this issue. Mayor Michelle Nelson encouraged sharing the list with her and she would attempt to get answers.
Brunke said there is a misunderstanding that claims must be submitted within 30 days. That is not the case, and he encouraged residents to forward their issues to the village’s public works staff. Brunke said the department will forward them to the AT&T liaison and project manager for the job.
A representative of AT&T’s public affairs office shared this statement with The Chronicle:
“As we work to bring high-speed fiber internet to more communities, we strive to minimize any disruption on residents. Prior to beginning this project, we provided our construction notice to the Village of Flossmoor with details on our work and how to contact us if there is an issue. Our contractors also notify homeowners if they anticipate having to access areas near their property. We appreciate the patience of the community while we work to complete this project.”
The AT&T representative said Flossmoor residents with issues on this project can contact the company at 1-800-843-6581.
