Commission approves additional Internet provider

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Loretta George/Tribune Harry Lee with New Wave Communications, left, makes a broadband proposition to the City of Fort Scott during Tuesday night's city commission. Fort Scott Information Manager Slayden Davis, right, helps to hold up the presentation of the current site of New Wave Communications in Allen County.

Fort Scott citizens and businesses will have another option for cellular service by mid-year.

Harry Lee, manager of communications for New Wave Communications, presented a broadband plan for the city's consideration during Tuesday night's Fort Scott City Commission meeting.

Lee, whose company, LaHarpe Communications, has been in business since 1950 and recently formed a new business as a wireless Internet service provider.

"What I am here for today is we're asking the City of Fort Scott for the opportunity to build a network around the city," Lee said.

Heather Griffith, economic director for the city, spoke on behalf of the business.

"I think it's a good opportunity for us," she said. "This is significant for development of Fort Scott wanting more bandwidth. AT&T and Suddenlink are local and accessible, but not affordable. This would offer another option with greater bandwidth at an affordable price for business and residents. They have a great reputation."

"We would begin by getting on three water towers you have," Lee said. "We know we'll have to build something near Lake Fort Scott for that area."

The commission approved signing a contract with New Wave Communication.

In other business the city:

*Approved the consent agenda which consisted of minutes from Feb 3; appropriation ordinances 786 and 1141-A totaling $985,403.06 and modification order F-044 which is removal of seven 70 watt high pressure sodium street lights at 1122 S. National Ave., 1201 S. National Ave., 1208 S. National Ave., 1218 S. National Ave., 1219 S. National Ave., 1224 S. National Ave. and 1301 S. National Ave.

* Greg Schick, owner of the property, appeared concerning the 520 E. Wall debris cleanup. After deliberation, the commission approved giving Schick 30 days to clean the area up to city codes.

* Approved the resolution directing repair or removal of an alleged unsafe and dangerous structures at 1005 E. Oak St. within 30 days and 206 Andrick St. for 60 days. The Andrick Street property has someone interested in taking control of the property, Martin said, so extra time was needed.

* The Good Neighbor Action Team updated the commission on the East Wall Corridor project.

See Friday's edition of the Tribune for a complete report on this discussion.

* Bids for the Rescue Star upgrade system for city dispatch were received. The bid was awarded to CenturyLink with a total term price of $109,982.84. AT&T bid $150,000.

* The new fuel system for city gas pumps was put out for bid.

* The city approved the bid for airport hay by Hubert Thomas for $5,651. Teresa Wunderly bid $1,650.

* The city approved the bid for the System Control and Data Acquisition software system for the water treatment department to Systems Manufacturing, Olathe, in the amount of $192,640.

R.W. Vaught Technical Services bid $129,000, but Sladen Davis, Fort Scott IT manager, recommended going with the Systems Manufacturing bid after careful deliberation of all aspects of the project.

Vaught spoke to the commission, but in the end the city approved the company that Davis recommended.

* The city approved the bid from Van Patten's Heating Air Conditioning for the new Woodland Hills Golf Course Clubhouse heating and air conditioning system for $7,950. French's bid $8,562.88 and Williams Heating and Air bid $8,680.

* The city adopted a resolution opposing the Kansas State Legislature's proposal to make municipal elections partisan and moving the elections to the fall of even numbered years.