Boyden, Iowa — A Boyden man is one of seven entities being sued by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for alleged violations of the “Iowa One Call” law. That law requires anyone who will be digging to call at least 48-hours in advance to have underground utility lines marked.
Iowa Attorney General Spokesman Geoff Greenwood says the people involved in each case failed to make that call.
In Sioux County, court records obtained by KIWA allege that, on May 5th of last year, Steve Doorenboos of Boyden conducted excavations to install drainage title near the intersection of 330th Street and Jay Avenue, southwest of Boyden, when his excavating equipment struck a 2-inch diameter gas line under 735-pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure, damaging that gas line, which is owned by Northern Natural Gas. The lawsuit filing states that the damage done by Dooreboos to the gas line caused a loss of gas service to the town of Boyden, and caused Northern Natural Gas substantial money to repair the pipeline. The court documents go on to accuse Doorenboos of failing to call Iowa One Call 48 hours in advance of the excavation, as is required by law. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Greenwood says these types of violations are not something that can be overlooked.
He says being in a hurry to get work done is not an excuse for not calling and having the underground lines marked.
Greenwood says it can cost you a lot more to go ahead and dig and hit a line instead of waiting. Anyone planning to dig can notify the Iowa Once Call Notification Center about planned digging or excavating online at www.iowaonecall.com, or by phone at 811 (or toll-free at 800-292-8989). The center is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The suit against Doorenboos was filed Monday afternoon in Sioux County District Court in Orange City.
