Twelve year franchise agreement awarded to Pine River Cable

With Monday?s unanimous vote authorizing mayor Gary Wregglesworth to sign a 12-year franchise agreement with Pine River Cable, the company will soon begin installing new cable lines.

In recognition of the way Northwoods Cable customers were reportedly treated before and after the cable service was halted last year, the agreement was gone over with a fine-tooth-comb to make sure language was in place that would protect the city and its residents.

For example, there is a provision in the agreement that requires complaints about service to be responded to by the company within seven days. Another provision requires PRC to sit down with the city commission on an annual basis to discuss possible upgrades.

The agreement was reviewed by city attorney Mike Vogler and John Metzler of PRC. The company was agreeable to the terms, and since Monday?s meeting, has signed the agreement.

THE AGREEMENT requires PRC, within a year, to provide cable TV, high-speed Internet, and voice-over IP services to all locations where there are 20 residences per linear mile of cable. It means every existing resident will have cable service available to him or her.

?This is an exciting project and infrastructure that?s vital to our economic health,? said city manager Joe Hefele. ?I believe the agreement as presented, allows for a solid service to be provided to our residents and businesses, while protecting the city from the problems we?ve experienced in the past.?

PRC will present engineered drawings of its system before construction, and as-built drawings after construction. Other requirements include PRC keeping its system in good working order, and that any disturbances caused by the firm be repaired by PRC.

It also contains a provision for revocation and the removal of the company?s infrastructure, should that become necessary. The agreement is not exclusive to PRC, so another company could come in and request a franchise from the city.

That would make it imperative that PRC offer a satisfactory product at a reasonable rate, or another company could possibly come in and pick up customers.

They could begin construction in the coming weeks and have their first customers hooked up by early August.

IN OTHER city business: ? Sewer contractor Glawe Inc. has two crews in town and has told city officials it can have excavation complete by September. ? There were 90 connections the city could make after the latest testing of Glawe?s lines. About two-thirds of the residents have returned forms and crews were to begin connecting customers.

? Greenridge Realty would like

to install a three-by-four foot sign, projecting from its building toward M-68. The sign is not permitted in commercial districts in the city?s ordinance, so a hearing for a variance request has been scheduled during the next city meeting, July 10.

? Local and state comment periods on a ?no harm to the environment and request for release of funds? for the paving of Industrial Park near M-211 have expired, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has given the city the green light to proceed.

There is approximately $35,000 available. Bids will determine how much of the road can be paved.

? The chief of police and city manager have been working on blight ordinance enforcement. Some residents have cut their grass, while others have not. The city will be abating those who have not this week, then adding the costs to the property owners tax bills.

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