City Council Tables Cox Cable Purchase
A resolution approving the assignment of Cox Cable's Grove franchise to Cebridge Connections was tabled at the request of the city attorney at Tuesday night's regular City Council meeting.
Ron Cates said he needed some time to look into the change and find out more about Cebridge Connections, which is in process of purchasing Cox franchises in West Texas, North Carolina, California, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Missouri.
About 1.3 million customers will be affected which will push Cebridge into the eighth largest cable operator in the country. Cebridge is managed by Cequel III, LLC. Both headquarter in St. Louis.
Pete Abel of Cequel III told The Observer Thursday that the entire existing Cox system in Grove would be upgraded by the end of the year to accommodate high speed internet service at the 550 megahertz level. "It is budgeted and in the plan for this year, providing we don't run into any unforseen circumstances," he said. He said that HD TV was not in the plan for this year but would be added depending on "local circumstances" in 2007. Late April or May is the target date for the ownership change, he said.
In other action some discussion occurred over the grant application to the FAA for Federal funds for airport expansion at the Grove Airport. Airport Manager Terri Abercrombie presented the form, already signed by Gary Trippensee, chairman of the airport trust authority, to be co-signed by City Manager Bill Galletly.
"We're muddying the waters," Galletly said, "the application does not provide for two applicants, it presents confusion, and I am not going to sign it as is," he added.
Council approved the application by a 3-1 vote, to be signed by only the city manager and forwarded to the FAA seeking $323,000 in funding, to be matched with $17,000 in local funds. Dave Helms voted against the issue and Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls was absent.
The money will be used to purchase 59.79 acres of land adjacent to the airport. The land in question has been put back on the market by the owners, Mike and Linda Prather. Cost of the property in December was $315,000. It has been appraised at $317,625, said Abercrombie.
The Council also voted to declare eight SCBA packs as surplus equipment and donate them to the Town of Eucha Fire Department; Grove will still have seven units as backup which are out of compliance, and recently purchased 15 new SCBA's.
Grove resident Judith Read said the rural fire departments each receive about $50,000 a year in funds from the half-cent fire tax, and recommended getting something for surplus property rather than giving it away.
A plaque was presented to the Employee of the Month, Dan Hight, Street Department worker, and Mike Russell, EMS employee, for his many years of service to Grove.
Also approved by Council were requests from Bill & Bobbie Kidwell relating to change of ownership for a parcel of land at 21st and Highway 59, and a change in ownership via a permanent easement or quit claim deed for a parcel of land on the Northwest Corner at 235 E Third near Computer Boy. An encroachment on city property exists on the building which has been there for 30 years. The request was made by Richard Chisholm.
Ron Cates said he needed some time to look into the change and find out more about Cebridge Connections, which is in process of purchasing Cox franchises in West Texas, North Carolina, California, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Missouri.
About 1.3 million customers will be affected which will push Cebridge into the eighth largest cable operator in the country. Cebridge is managed by Cequel III, LLC. Both headquarter in St. Louis.
Pete Abel of Cequel III told The Observer Thursday that the entire existing Cox system in Grove would be upgraded by the end of the year to accommodate high speed internet service at the 550 megahertz level. "It is budgeted and in the plan for this year, providing we don't run into any unforseen circumstances," he said. He said that HD TV was not in the plan for this year but would be added depending on "local circumstances" in 2007. Late April or May is the target date for the ownership change, he said.
In other action some discussion occurred over the grant application to the FAA for Federal funds for airport expansion at the Grove Airport. Airport Manager Terri Abercrombie presented the form, already signed by Gary Trippensee, chairman of the airport trust authority, to be co-signed by City Manager Bill Galletly.
"We're muddying the waters," Galletly said, "the application does not provide for two applicants, it presents confusion, and I am not going to sign it as is," he added.
Council approved the application by a 3-1 vote, to be signed by only the city manager and forwarded to the FAA seeking $323,000 in funding, to be matched with $17,000 in local funds. Dave Helms voted against the issue and Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls was absent.
The money will be used to purchase 59.79 acres of land adjacent to the airport. The land in question has been put back on the market by the owners, Mike and Linda Prather. Cost of the property in December was $315,000. It has been appraised at $317,625, said Abercrombie.
The Council also voted to declare eight SCBA packs as surplus equipment and donate them to the Town of Eucha Fire Department; Grove will still have seven units as backup which are out of compliance, and recently purchased 15 new SCBA's.
Grove resident Judith Read said the rural fire departments each receive about $50,000 a year in funds from the half-cent fire tax, and recommended getting something for surplus property rather than giving it away.
A plaque was presented to the Employee of the Month, Dan Hight, Street Department worker, and Mike Russell, EMS employee, for his many years of service to Grove.
Also approved by Council were requests from Bill & Bobbie Kidwell relating to change of ownership for a parcel of land at 21st and Highway 59, and a change in ownership via a permanent easement or quit claim deed for a parcel of land on the Northwest Corner at 235 E Third near Computer Boy. An encroachment on city property exists on the building which has been there for 30 years. The request was made by Richard Chisholm.
posted by Editor | 1:26 AM
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