HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/12/2006Municipal Telecommunications Utility (MTU) Board Minutes
December 12, 2006
Board Members Present: Jim Waterbury, Doris Kelley, and Randy Pilkington
(quorum)
Staff Members Present: Jim Walsh and Linda Craun
Randy Pilkington moved, and Doris Kelley seconded that the minutes from November
14, 2006, and November 28, 2006, be approved as submitted. Motion carried.
Doris Kelley moved, and Randy Pilkington seconded that the budget report be approved
as submitted. Motion carried. Linda Craun informed the Board that the City of Waterloo
has begun its budget request process for FY08. Ms. Craun will submit a request for dues
to the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities and publication costs based on what the
Board has spent for calendar year 2006. The Board instructed her to proceed.
Doris Kelley and Jim Walsh met with Mayor Hurley on Monday, December 1 Mayor
Hurley asked that the Board proceed with obtaining more information. Doris Kelley
moved that we ask Mark Kittrell, on behalf of his clients, to submit a high level business
plan detailing the ownership, financial responsibilities of partners, sources of revenue,
product planning, business structure including operations and maintenance, financial
analysis, and development process including timeline, responsibilities, schematic design
of outside plant, and technology to be deployed. The plan should specifically define the
City's responsibilities and benefits to be derived from participating in the partnership.
Randy Pilkington seconded the motion. There was discussion as to whether Mr. Kittrell
would have to name the specific businesses and non-profit entities. Motion carried.
Jon Koebrick, Vice President of Government Relations for Mediacom, stated Mediacom
has been developing a new business product over the last 6 to 9 months. This is a 10-
megabit connection at $400 per month with a standard installation charge. Mediacom is
launching the program today; Crystal Distribution is their first client.
Bill Roark, Account Executive with Mediacom, stated the network is in place. There is a
flat one-time fee of $3,500 for connection of the fiber to the business. Any future growth
for that business would be upgrades, with no additional installation. This service is
available in the Cedar Valley, which includes Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, Elk Run,
and Hudson.
Jim Walsh thanked Mediacom for this new service to the community. He also
congratulated the Board, the City of Waterloo, and the voters of the community for
helping to force this competitive response in our community and asked that we continue
our efforts to give Waterloo the most modern, world -class communications services
available at affordable prices.
A representative from Crystal Distribution informed the Board that the one-time
installation fee of $3,500 was a savings for him as it would have cost at least that for just
the trenching because they had to go under a parking lot. Jim Walsh said it cost VGM
much more to connect two of its own buildings approximately two miles apart using
overhead and poles.
There was discussion about changing the meeting to Fridays during the Legislative
Session. No final decision was made as the Board members present wanted input from
the two Board members not there.
Doris Kelley moved, Randy Pilkington seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Motion
carried.
Linda Craun
Secretary