Marion City Council discussed a proposed contract between the city and Alabama Fiber Network at its meeting Monday night, April 21. Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) has proposed to build a fiber optic cable within the city limits.
This cable would provide high-speed internet access to first responders — police, firefighters, and EMTS — throughout the area.
While AFN does not supply residential internet access, a representative of the company told city officials that the fiber optic cable will help residential internet providers like HughesNet broaden their network in the area, reaching neighborhoods and homes previously out-of-range. The mayor and council, along with the city attorney, are still reviewing the contract, and discussed possible exceptions or changes to the contract Monday night. Mayor Dexter Hinton suggested the city ask for a 4% franchise fee instead of the 3% proposed by AFN. City Clerk Laura Hinton advised against the request. City attorney Ainka Jackson reminded the council of the agreement’s renewal protocol, in which the agreement will automatically renew after five years, with a one-year notice required for cancellation.
Jackson told the mayor she will check if the state will allow the city to ask for a 4% franchise fee, but said she believed the fee might be capped at 3%. She went on to cite other issues with the contract such as permit fees and the proposed location of the cable, saying that this information is not present in the contract in its current form. The council voted to table any action on the agreement with AFN until further study of the contract is completed.
Mayor Hinton discussed the city’s need for new commercial lawn mowers. He said the city currently owns two commercial lawn mowers, and one is leaking an excessive amount of oil daily. He said the city needs two new lawnmowers and proposed leasing these mowers by the year instead of purchasing them outright, as the type of mower needed costs nearly $30,000. Leasing two new mowers would cost roughly $13,000 a year. Councilmember Charles Sanders volunteered to look into more options for the equipment.
The council heard a request from the Marion police department for new firearms, specifically two Glock pistols, six AR-15 rifles, and ten shotguns. Councilmembers voted to table the request.
The council then heard a proposal for a new animal shelter. This shelter would be used for the temporary holding of animals, mainly dogs and cats brought in during the weekend when the current animal shelter is closed. It was reported that veterinarian Dr. Doug Halbrooks has approved of the proposal. Councilmembers agreed to request a letter from Halbrooks in which he could outline all the requirements and specifications that would go with the proposed temporary shelter.
Mayor Hinton voiced a concern that the exterior of City Hall needs to be repainted. The mayor and council agreed to seek a professional estimates for this project.
Councilmembers heard a request for an easement from the Perry County Highway Department. The County has offered to repair and pave Carol Street, a city street. In return, the county requests the city grant an easement in order for the Highway Department to make the repairs. City attorney Jackson advised the council to grant the easement, pending her review. The council voted to do so.
Councilmembers discussed a proposed renovation project for the city’s water well and water pump. The city’s water well currently uses a submersible pump which operates from within the water source. Depending on rainfall amounts, this means that the pump is usually between seven hundred and nine hundred feet beneath the ground. Any repairs needed for this pump require pulling it all the way up to the surface, a costly and time-consuming process. An initial estimate of a renovation was $400,000. The cost of an entirely new water well and pump would be more than one million dollars. Morrow Water Technologies has made a bid for $210,000 to replace the old submersible water pump with a vertical turbine pump. The vertical turbine pumps one thousand gallons per minute, twice the 500 gallons per minute the current submersible pumps. The vertical turbine pump is also positioned at ground level, making maintenance and repairs much easier. Councilman Sanders asked if this type of pump would freeze in the winter. The council has been assured that they will not freeze, as they are entirely encased at ground level. The council voted to accept Morrow’s bid.
The council then heard a citizen’s complaint about a general state of disrepair on Lincoln Park Street. Dilapidated homes and cars line this street, according to the citizen, and uncut yards are piled with trash. City attorney Jackson recommended compiling a list of addresses on the street and sending out certified letters informing the tenants of their upkeep obligations. The council voted to do so.
The council then convened behind closed doors for an executive session, emerging nearly an hour later to adjourn the meeting.
