HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/21/26 Telecom Board Meeting Minutes
TELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Council Chambers
January 21, 2026
4:00 p.m.
1. Members present: Mr. Van Fleet, Mr. Kurtenbach, Mr. Young. Mr. Batemon joined at
4:05 p.m. and Ms. Wienands joined at 4:08 p.m.
2. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young that the agenda as amended, by removing
item number seven, be approved. Voice vote-Ayes: Three. Motion carried.
Eric Lage, General Manager, explained that they are still assessing the agreement.
3. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young that the minutes of December 16, 17 and
22, 2025 meetings, as presented, be approved. Voice vote-Ayes: Three. Motion
carried.
4. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young approving a resolution authorizing payment
of bills for December 2025. Roll Call vote-Ayes: Three. Motion carried. Resolution No.
2026-01.
Mr. Kurtenbach questioned a credit card bill.
Eric Lage, General Manager, explained that the charges are for general marketing
and operating expenses.
5. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young to approve Change Order No. 038, for a
net increase of $10,639.52, in conjunction with the FY2023 Construction of a Fiber-
to-the-Premise Feeder/Distribution and Backbone Network Project, Contract No.
1088. Voice vote-Ayes: Three. Motion carried.
Mr. Van Fleet questioned if this was for a new area.
Mike Regan, Entrust, explained that this change order is for the updated design for
the Paradise Estates subdivision.
Mr. Van Fleet asked if the price had changed.
Mike Regan commented that the pricing is the same as it was three years ago.
6. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young to approve Change Order No. 039, for a
net increase of $12,187.50, in conjunction with the FY2023 Construction of a Fiber-
to-the-Premise Feeder/Distribution and Backbone Network Project, Contract No.
1088. Voice vote-Ayes: Four. Motion carried.
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Mike Regan, Entrust, explained that this change order accounts for additional
construction and labor to bore into bedrock. He further commented that this change
order is a shared expense with the City of Waterloo.
7. Motion to approve a Wholesale Master Services Agreement with Northern Iowa
Communications Partners, LLC.
This item was removed from the agenda by amendment.
8. Update from general manager and consultants.
Eric Lage, General Manager, shared that Task Order No. 10, Phase 2, was released
this week.
Mike Regan, Entrust, shared that they are targeting Task Order No. 9 next month.
Mr. Van Fleet asked which area this task order covers.
Eric Lage shared that it is in the southeast side of downtown.
Mr. Kurtenbach questioned the timeline for the downtown area.
Mike Regan explained that the downtown area is currently paused temporarily for
more favorable weather conditions due to the amount of restoration work anticipated.
He shared that the timeline should be about March or April.
Dave Hersleb, ITG, commented that once the weather cooperates, they will
coordinate closely with the city engineers for concrete permits.
Mr. Van Fleet questioned how long this portion of the project would take.
Dave Hersleb explained that the downtown portion will be very time consuming. He
shared that there would be multiple crews working on it, but he is unable to give a
tighter timeline at this time.
9. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young to adjourn to a closed session at 4:12 p.m.
Closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 388.9(1) to discuss marketing and
pricing strategies or proprietary information if its competitive position would be
harmed by public disclosure not required of potential or actual competitors, and if no
public purpose would be served by such disclosure. Roll Call vote-Ayes: Five. Motion
carried.
10. Adjourn.
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Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young to adjourn from closed session at 5:12 p.m.
Roll Call vote-Ayes: Five. Motion carried.
With no further business before the board, it was moved by Kurtenbach seconded by
Young that the meeting be adjourned at 5:12 p.m. Voice vote-Ayes: Five. Motion carried.
Kelley Felchle
Board Secretary