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Council discusses cable upgrade Melodie Phelps News Editor While it was not on Monday nightıs agenda, the upgrade of the local cable system was discussed by several council members during the session. Councilman Dan Daffron broached the subject as he noted that he did not feel the $1 million in state funds awarded to the project were earmarked specifically for a fiber to the home system. Daffron said the money was awarded for a telecommunications project. Daffron, a former member of the Telecommunications Board, has voiced his support for a less expensive hybrid fiber coax upgrade for the local system, and he again emphasized that Monday evening. Daffron told council members that he feels coax cable has been given a bad rap. He said that the coax cable of today is much better quality than in the past and that it has great possibilities to provide high speed internet, more cable channels, and telephone service for local residents. Councilman Phillip Duncan, who is currently serving on the Telecommunications Board, said that fiber is the way the market is going right now. He said he felt it would be best to upgrade the system with fiber, so that several years down the road the board wonıt have to come back and redo the project. Duncan gave the example of three-inch water lines which were used in the past for water expansion projects. Those lines were insufficient to provide the water needed along those routes today, and many have to be replaced with larger lines. Duncan encouraged all City Council members to attend the next meeting of the Telecommunications Board as this project continues. The board will meet again on Wednesday, April 20 at 1 p.m. at the Monticello Electric Plant Board office. In action taken Monday night, the council agreed to give two large mill stones from the old McKechnie Mill which sat on the banks of Elk Creek to the Historical Museum for safekeeping. The museum submitted a written request that the mill stones be placed in the facility to help preserve them. The mill stones were originally acquired by the city several years ago with the intention of incorporating them into the downtown revitalization effort. Mayor Thurston Frye said that the mill stones did not fit in with final plans for the revitalization effort, and that they have been stored. He recommended that the council approve the request and noted that the City Street Department could move the mill stones to the museum. The council agreed to sell a used air compressor, which is used for firefighterıs breathing apparatus, to the Susie Fire Department for $1, as recommended by Monticello Fire Chief Steve Ferrell. Ferrell said the equipment had been loaned to the department, since the city department received new equipment last year. During his report to the council, Frye pointed out that the city has been awarded $246,800 in PRIDE money to upgrade the sewer in the Webster Addition, Highland Avenue, and Lincoln Avenue areas. Frye said he was notified that the funding had been approved for the project on Monday by PRIDE officials. Frye announced his appointment to the city and county fire protection committee. Frye noted that City Clerk Treasurer Greg Latham will automatically serve on the committee due to the the agreement between the two governments. He said Monday that Councilman Gene Jones will also serve on the committee, representing the city. The county will appoint two members to the committee, which will meet quarterly to review the fire department budget and make recommendations regarding the agreement between the two governments. Add a comment |
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