HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/18/2007Municipal Telecommunications Utility (MTU) Board Minutes
September 18, 2007
Board Members Present: Jim Waterbury, Doris Kelley, Bob Heaton, Randy
Pilkington, and Scott Crowley
Staff Member Present: Linda Craun
Randy Pilkington moved, and Bob Heaton seconded that the minutes from August 21,
2007, be approved as submitted. Motion carried.
Bob Heaton moved, and Randy Pilkington seconded that the budget report be approved
as submitted. Motion carried.
Jim Waterbury distributed an opinion letter from Jim Walsh regarding whether there is a
conflict of interest for a member of this Board to be on the board for Waterloo Telecom
Partners. The opinion basically states there is no legal conflict of interest. Mr. Waterbury
also read a memo from Mayor Hurley appointing Noel Anderson to be the City's
representative on the Waterloo Telecom Partners board. There was discussion as to the
appearance of a conflict of interest.
Bob Heaton moved, Doris Kelley seconded that this Board declines to appoint a member
to the Waterloo Telecom Partners Board, supports the appointment of Noel Anderson,
and requests that Noel Anderson attend our meetings to keep us informed. Motion carried
unanimously.
The proposed Fiber Optic Network Agreement between Waterloo Telecom Partners, Inc.
and this Board was discussed. Clarification on several points is needed. Bob Heaton
would like a paragraph added concerning a right to audit annually. Mr. Heaton also felt
that a public hearing should be held prior to adopting a final agreement. Jim Waterbury
will send a letter to Jim Walsh asking for clarification of the points discussed.
A copy of a letter from Qwest to Waterloo Telecom Partners dated August 31, 2007, was
sent to each member of this Board. The letter indicated Qwest chose not to respond with
a specific proposal on the Request for Information (RFI) sent to them from
Team/Consulting Partners.
Jim Waterbury distributed an Agenda from Waterloo Telecom Partners first meeting of
September le. No one from that meeting was in attendance, so there was no report.
On August 31" Doris Kelley met with Ron Padavich and Steve Dust to discuss the
business survey. There is another meeting on Friday, September 21St, that Ms. Kelley will
be unable to attend. If the survey document is finalized, the process can begin October let
Doris Kelley was under the impression that funds for the survey were already in place.
However, Steve Dust would like to request funding from the incumbents. Ms. Kelley is
leery of that because of the appearance of a conflict; she would like to find alternative
funding ---not from Mediacom. Scott Crowley and Bob Heaton also support independent
funding, not from current or future providers. A question was asked whether this Board
could donate money for the business survey.
There was a consensus of the Board that Jim Waterbury and Doris Kelley could make the
final decision on any revisions to the business survey so that the process could begin by
October 1st
Randy Pilkington brought up a concern from last month's meeting. Mr. Pilkington made
the motion and also voted to "support the design, development and implementation of the
survey of commercial businesses for fiber optics demand analysis and competitive
assessment that is being funded by the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance." Mr. Pilkington
knew at the time that Strategic Marketing Services at UNI would be involved in the
survey; SMS reports to Randy Pilkington. He would like to amend the record to indicate
an abstention from voting due to a possible conflict, rather than an affirmative vote. The
Board was in agreement, as the motion still would have passed with four votes.
Jim Waterbury reported that, according to Mayor Hurley, funding for the City survey is
on the list of requests for gaming money.
Bob Heaton brought an article that appeared in Investors Business Daily on September
17, 2007, regarding municipal Wi-Fi.
Jim Waterbury asked for comments or questions from the public. Lee Grassley, from
Mediacom, stated he would like to receive a copy of the WTP Agreement when it is
finalized. Mr. Grassley also expressed his disappointment with the Board's attitude
concerning funding from Mediacom for the business survey. Mediacom has worked with
other communities, Parkersburg in particular. As an incumbent provider, Mediacom
would like to have the data that tells them where they need to improve.
Bob Heaton stated he feels Mediacom's motives are pure, but the Board is concerned
with the appearance of a conflict.
The next meeting is October 16th at 4:00 p.m.
Linda Craun
Secretary