Observations...

The city has received an update on the Verizon Cell Tower project, noting that environmental studies, survey, and tower equipment ordering are completed; in process is FAA paperwork, which should be approved within two weeks. Construction should start the last quarter of 2006, with groundwork beginning in October or November, according to Verizon. Verizon and Sprint are already signed up…GIDA Board members are working on a new fee schedule for the Grove Civic Center and are all but eliminating "freebies." Recommendations should be completed by the next meeting…Remaining land at the NEO center across from the library will probably be held for education purposes, including four lots listed at $20,000 each, and land to the south which may be used by Northeast Technology Center…The issue of a city-wide Wi-Fi system is going to be brought up again, a true Mesh system which covers the city like a blanket rather than receiving signals from several towers. There are currently three wi-fi systems, all on the 900 mgzh band, which are interfering with each other causing sporadic reception. With the Mesh system there are multiple transmitters every two blocks or so. The cities of Vinita, Miami, and Pawnee are currently installing such systems and Bartlesville recently completed a 36-square block downtown system which is free to users in that area…The Observer needs a high school student writer to cover Grove High School Football home games; if interested please call 791-0203. Rate of pay is the same as The Editor....Oct. 11 is the date set for a GRDA hearing on a huge marina application from Peter Boylan at Shangri-La. We hope to get more details soon...Will Delaware County taxpayers have to pony up $800,000 to repay the FAA for grant monies previously given to the Monkey Island Development Authority? That is the question people are asking, after Federal Judge Claire Eagan issued a ruling this week that puts Delaware County and MIDA jointly responsible for the repayment. MIDA has no money so that leaves Delaware County, the public trust's beneficiary. The $800,000 was used to acquire land for the Grand Lake Regional Airport on Monkey Island, and build a security fence around the airport and airport manager Paul Staten's house. State money was also used to build the fence. The Delaware County Commissioners are squarely on the hook for their failure to handle this entire deal properly, including the continued appointment of evil doers to the MIDA board and failure to admit the county's liability early on.