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July 15, 2004
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July 15, 2004 |
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Village
Council business— Village Council last week signed off on an agreement with a local technology company to erect antennas on one of the Village water towers to provide wireless Internet access around Yellow Springs. At its meeting July 6, Council voted 4–0 to approve a three-year contract with the company Logical Solutions, giving the firm nonexclusive rights to rent space on the water towers, which are located at Gaunt Park. Council president Tony Arnett abstained. Arnett, who owns and operates e-TCA, an IT company, has a business relationship with Logical Solutions. The tower license agreement allows Logical Solutions to place up to six antennas on the towers. Logical Solutions, which is owned by Bruce and Carol Cornett, will pay the Village $500 a year in rent. The Village can renew the contract twice, at which time, the Village and Cornett would renegotiate the rental fee. Council member George Pitstick noted that the contract calls for setting the rent at the market rate at the time of renegotiations. After the meeting, Village Manager Rob Hillard said that it was difficult to determine a rental fee for Logical Solutions because the company’s wireless Internet service is not operating yet. The Village and Cornett had been negotiating the contract since at least May. Cornett said that Logical Solutions will provide an alternative mechanism for Yellow Springs businesses and residences to access the Internet. He said that some local businesses “don’t find existing high-speed connections reliable enough.” In addition, the company plans to provide an “internal Yellow Springs Intranet,” or what Cornett called an “electronic version of our town.” It’s all part of the company’s plans “to promote Yellow Springs as a high-tech community,” he said. He added that the service “would go a long way” toward “enhancing our local economic development.” Cornett said that an antenna could be erected by the end of the month and the Internet service may be up and running in 60 to 90 days. In other Council business: • Council agreed to a request from residents on King Street and Kingsfield Court to extend the sidewalk on the east side of King Street near Dayton Street. Council agreed to assess two property owners on the east side of King where the sidewalk would be built as well as a property owner across the street. Hillard estimated it would cost $5,000 to build the walk. The three property owners will be assessed the cost of the sidewalk because the walk is considered an improvement to their properties, Hillard and several Council members said. The Village will pay to improve drainage, remove some trees and rebuild the curb where the sidewalk will be built. Arnett said that the Village would try to build the sidewalk during the current construction season. The Village received a petition signed by 26 residents on King and Kingsfield asking for the sidewalk. During last week’s meeting, five neighbors spoke for the need of the sidewalk, citing safety concerns. Joseph Giardullo, whose wife, Denise Swinger, is on Council, noted that “the sidewalk just ends” on King, near Dayton, and pedestrians have to walk in the street to reach the corner. Swinger did not participate in the discussion, saying, “I have to leave this one alone.” • Council unanimously passed a motion to provide the Yellow Springs Men’s Group $3,000 to help fund a public relations campaign. The Men’s Group has also asked the Yellow Springs school board and the Miami Township trustees for funding. The group’s plan says it would need a total of $24,000 from the local governments over three years. The total cost of the project is $101,300. Ron Schmidt, the Men’s Group vice president of planning and research, told Council last month that the organization is planning a campaign highlighting a positive image for Yellow Springs, in an effort to increase visitation, attract new residents and strengthen local institutions. • Arnett suggested that during Council’s Aug. 2 meeting, Council members discuss using Village green space funds for drainage improvements on the Glass Farm. Village staff and Council members have said that building a detention pond on the farm, which the Village owns, could help alleviate flooding downstream, in the north end of town. • Council members said they would support an ordinance increasing to $250 from $100 the utility deposit the Village charges renters. Hillard has reported that renters make up the bulk of delinquent utility payments. Council also discussed the possibility of collecting renters’ delinquent utility bills from landlords through property taxes. • Council unanimously approved a resolution accepting bids for six Village vehicles Council had declared surplus. The following were the high bidders: Grace Quality Used Cars, 2000 Ford Crown Victoria, for $3,637.99; Todd Van Lehn, 1967 Ford tractor, $1,851; Bay Ridge Motors, 1997 Ford Crown Victoria, $1,379; Michael Battaglia, 1982 Chevy tanker truck, $985; Saretto Callaha, 1992 Chevy Blazer, $870; Sean Galligan, 1988 Chevy van, $200. • Council indicated that it would support legislation placing a conservation easement on the Village wellfield to protect the public water supply. The legislation would likely limit development in the wellfield, a 53-acre property in Miami Township. Based on a suggestion by Hillard, Council said that the legislation would permit the Village to improve the Village water plant, which is located in the wellfield. • After meeting in executive session to discuss personnel, Council agreed to appoint Steven Deal to the Village Planning Commission. |
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