Board rejects claim over park pay phones

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Claims Board has rejected a demand that the state pay nearly $53,000 to a company that said it didn’t get adequate notice when its contract to provide pay phone service at state parks was canceled.

Wisconsin State Payphones argued that it properly maintained the phones and the state owed it the money under terms of the contract that was canceled in 2009.

The state Department of Natural Resources said it acted within terms of the contract when it canceled it, citing numerous problems with the company’s responsiveness to addressing problems.

The claims board on Thursday agreed with the state, saying the pay phone company did not show sufficient negligence to warrant payment of the claim. The company’s attorney did not immediately return a message.