A Jamestown contractor faces another $10,000 in fines for numerous violations of North Dakota’s “Call Before You Dig” law.
Northern Excavating Company was working in and around the Ross area. The PSC says the company did not make those calls – and damaged infrastructure belonging to MDU. One other complaint involved work in the Bismarck area. Earlier, the company was fined for damage done to Reservation Telephone Cooperative in Ross. Commissioner Brian Kalk says all told, Northern Excavating has to pay $19,000 in fines. Kalk says the company has 30 days to pay the $10,000 in the latest fines.
"Quite honestly, they have not paid the previous fines," said Kalk.
The money would go to the state general fund.
Kalk says the PSC action sets in motion avenues for MDU and Reservation Telephone to get some relief – especially through the courts.
"We (the PSC) may levy a fine, and that sets the stage for RTC, for example, to go back and get tens of thousands of dollars in fiber optic costs," said Kalk. "This is not the end of what happens out there."
Kalk says if the company doesn’t pay the fine, the PSC could consider further court action to force payment.
"That's uncharted territory," said Kalk.
