Through public records requests, we uncovered a detailed history of Tilson's missteps, including instances of incompetence and non-compliance that have impacted our neighborhoods.
See Tilson’s Impact on Las Vegas Valley Water District Lines
March 16, 2023
Jennifer Kouba from Tilson reached out to the City of Las Vegas on March 16, 2023, to clarify the requirements and process for submitting Traffic Control Plans (TCPs) for an upcoming fiber optic installation project in Las Vegas.
October 19, 2023
Tilson contractors dug up a conduit supplying power to the eastbound school flashers and streetlights at Bonanza/Honolulu, affecting Gragson Elementary School and Mater Academy. NV Energy removed the meter, and repairs will not be completed until November 1, 2023.
October 31, 2023
Tilson received multiple violations for working outside of approved hours (9 PM-5 AM). The company was warned on 07/20/23 but continued to violate the work-hour restrictions, resulting in four additional violations.
November 15, 2023
Tilson thanked the City of Las Vegas for meeting to discuss issues and concerns related to bell time schedules and restoration timelines. Tilson assured us that these matters would be addressed by Tilson’s teams, subcontractors, and traffic control company.
November 20, 2023
Just five days later, Tilson sent an email requesting a time extension for work at Washington and Marion due to delays caused by rock pockets increasing drill pull-back pressure. The team needed a few more hours to complete the work and promised to provide updates.
November 22, 2023
The City of Las Vegas emailed Tilson and their barricade subcontractor, Nevada Barricade & Dign Co. Inc., to emphasize that Tilson does not have approval for a 24-hour setup and is not permitted to leave equipment in place beyond approved hours. Any setups left outside the permitted time frame will result in a barricade violation.
December 7, 2023
Due to citizen complaints about Tilson’s daytime closures extending into the evening, it was confirmed that barricade setups were being left up overnight by various barricade companies. Photos were attached as evidence.
December 8, 2023
From July 20th to November 29th of 2023, Tilson and its traffic control companies accrued Barricade Violation Notices (BVNs) totaling $11,850 for not adhering to approved Traffic Control Plan (TCP) work hours and conditions. Following a recent field meeting with Tilson, Sunrise Paving, and STS, the City of Las Vegas suggested bringing together Tilson, their subcontractors, and traffic control companies to reset expectations and address compliance issues.
February 8, 2024
Concerns were raised by a neighbor about traffic cones and no parking signs set up by Tilson Technology in their neighborhood, specifically on Sattes Street and Lava Avenue. He reported that these setups have caused unnecessary disruptions, including interference with trash collection, traffic, and safety, despite no active work being performed at the locations for over a week.
City staff investigated and confirmed that Tilson had left traffic control setups overnight without active work. The City instructed Tilson to limit setups to only the areas being worked on daily and reminded them of the 72-hour advance requirement for no parking signs.
Further, City staff emphasized the need for stricter oversight and communication to address citizen complaints and prevent similar issues.
The City of Las Vegas Public Works Director was included in this email.
February 20, 2024
City of Las Vegas staff highlights persistent issues caused by Tilson and their traffic control companies, which have impacted the community, the Department of Building & Safety, and Public Works. Discussions between Tilson and the Department of Building & Safety have escalated, potentially involving wireless company executives reaching out to the Mayor and Council. To prepare, Public Works instructed traffic control companies to provide daily reports of setups initiated by Tilson. City Staff were asked to visit Tilson’s work areas daily, document deficiencies with photos, and provide brief summaries of their observations.
March, 25, 2024
Tilson reported hitting a water line at Bonanza & 22nd. As a result, their work zone will remain set up beyond the approved hours to allow LVVWD to repair the water line.
April 4, 2024
The City issued The Barricade Company a warning after the City staff witnessed The Barricade Company cause a crash on Bonanza due to poor barricade placement.
May 22, 2024
AWP informed the City that they will no longer provide traffic or flagger services for Tilson. City Staff also confirmed their commitment to monitoring Tilson’s activities as Tilson transitioned from working with AWP/Statewide.
June 26, 2024
The City was alerted to a complaint involving Tilson's project and barricades being left up without active work. City staff mentioned their coordination efforts with various teams, including Community Development Offsite inspection staff, Traffic Engineering Field Operations (TEFO) Barricade Inspectors, and Tilson's Project Management, to manage the large-scale micro trenching project. However, the project's scope continues to cause congestion and complaints.
The issue had been escalated through multiple city departments, highlighting the challenges in mitigating the project's community impact.
July 25, 2024
A neighbor submitted a complaint about road closures and sidewalk work on Wengert, noting litter left by workers and their presence on her property. The litter included water bottles and Gatorade, and she provided photos and videos as evidence.
Initial checks revealed no approved traffic control plans for the area. Upon further investigation, it was confirmed that Tilson was performing work under a temporary traffic control plan covering multiple locations, which initially did not appear in searches. Tilson committed to addressing the resident’s concerns and contacting her directly to resolve the issues.
Efforts were made to ensure Tilson complies with requirements and to improve oversight to prevent similar complaints.
July 29, 2024
“My gut tells me it’s Tilson because it seems that EVERYTHING lately has been Tilson related”
A neighbor inquired about street markings on Manzanita Way and the projects they indicated. Multiple city staff members forwarded the query. Initial searches in the city’s database did not identify any pending Traffic Control Plan (TCP) permits for the area.
Further investigation revealed that the markings were associated with a fiber installation project by Tilson. A field line locator confirmed this. Tilson's use of a temporary TCP covering multiple locations initially caused the markings to be overlooked. City staff communicated with Tilson to address the resident's inquiry and ensure proper follow-up on the project.
August 1, 2024
Tilson notified City staff that they plan on doing their own traffic setups and submitting their own plans moving forward.
August 2, 2024
Three "Barricade Violation Notices" (BVNs) were issued to Tilson for multiple infractions during their operations. The first, BVN#080224-01, resulted in a $1,800 fine for contractors working in roads at various locations without proper traffic control. The second, BVN#080224-02, imposed a $1,100 fine for the absence of flaggers at designated setups and for leaving debris unprotected in the roadway. Photos documenting these violations were too large to attach to the report but were sent separately to John Pope Jr. and Lacey Theobald. Lastly, BVN#080224-03 resulted in a $950 fine for failing to maintain two-way traffic due to the size of the equipment being used on-site. Photos of this violation were also sent separately. These violations underscore ongoing issues with Tilson’s compliance with traffic control and safety standards.
August 12, 2024
An onsite meeting was held with Tilson leadership to address recent barricade violations. City staff met with Tilson, represented by Ryan Curley, Marta Forcher, Connor Hobbs, and over 30 field supervisors.
The meeting was prompted by eight barricade violations issued to Tilson in the weeks prior, to prevent further violations through direct communication. Key topics discussed included the absence of flaggers at posts, Tilson vehicles obstructing travel lanes in one-lane road setups, addressing offsite inspection safety concerns, and the towing of resident vehicles. The meeting was deemed successful in fostering understanding and potentially improving compliance moving forward.
August 22, 2024
Tilson continues to face significant issues, including fines and plan revocations. It was also discovered that Gigapower lacks a blanket Traffic Control Plan (TCP) or any approved TCPs for conducting maintenance work in the public right-of-way, as well as a lack of coordination on this matter. Violation spreadsheets have been updated, and payment reminders have been sent to address outstanding fines and fees.
September 3, 2024
Tilson struck a light pole at 101 N 19th St., causing an outage for the entire neighborhood.
September 27, 2024
City staff found Tilson is once again operating without proper authorization, this time on St. Louis between Spencer and 16th and, conducting work without an approved barricade plan.
October 2, 2024
City of Las Vegas Staff noted that Tilson continues to exhibit persistent noncompliance with their traffic control setups. To address this issue, the City proposed revoking their permits and requiring them to resubmit traffic control plans, which will undergo the standard week-long review process before consideration. Additionally, the City will ensure that all outstanding fines are paid before any new permits are issued. These measures aim to emphasize the critical importance of adhering to approved traffic control plans and maintaining compliance.
October 2, 2024
The City reviewed photos of two Tilson work sites, one without traffic control devices and another obstructing two-way traffic without a flagger, both of which failed to comply with the approved TCP (TTC24-01550), the City of Las Vegas has revoked the plan. The associated traffic control company was instructed to remove all devices from the right-of-way until Tilson submits a new plan, which will undergo a 1-2 week review process. Additionally, all outstanding fines must be paid before any plans are reviewed or approved.
October 16, 2024
The City continued to notice noncompliance after fines and meetings with Tilson.