Grounds crew severs power lines; building phone service interrupted

By Laban Pelz

As of Sunday, most of the Peters business building was without phone service after workers accidentally severed a cable Friday morning.

A Fresno State grounds crew was planting trees when it severed the underground pipeline that supplies the building with power. At about 9:30 a.m., the third, fourth and fifth levels of the west wing and the third floor of the east wing of the building lost phone service.

The workers planting the trees were using grounds plans that showed the power lines to be south of where they actually were, according to Pete Conrad of Fresno State facilities planning.

“ The plans showed they (the lines) were over there,” Conrad said, pointing to a bluff on the other side of a walkway from where the lines actually were.

The two trees are now planted on that bluff.

“ It was kind of a surprise,” said Jill Plaunt, a staff member in the department of mathematics office located on the third floor of the building.

“ People can’t call in to ask questions, and we can’t get out. Fortunately, it’s Friday, and it’s slow. I feel bad for the guys who hit it (the line). As long as it takes a minimum number of days to fix, it’s not bad,” Plaunt said.

The portable buildings just west of Peters also lost use of phones. No other services were affected by the accident.

Another Fresno State grounds crew was digging a large trench around the damaged lines Friday. All other phone service in the building was lost when a private contractor installed new cables Saturday, except in some offices of the Craig School of Business and at least one direct line.

Though Vice President for Administrative Services Jeannine Raymond said she hoped to have phone service restored by Monday, new cables had yet to be connected Sunday evening. All offices in the Peters building are open today.