05-14-97 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUT~S CITY COUNCIL MAY 14, 1997 Carson indicated that most cities he is familiar with do not allow the installation ofnew overhead wires. Fahey asked if the City l~ad the le~al authority to require Chat new wires be b~iried. Tl~e City Attor~~ey replied that the City probably had that authority. The City Administrltor pointed out that right-of-way IegislaYion is pendin~. The Administrator did think that the City could require underground instal(ation. Carson pointed out that the issue here is with a fiber, not a heavy electrical line. Fahey pointed out the disor~aniz~tion of buried utilities within the rights- of-way. Fahey also felt that overhead utilities was a part of our society and indicated that tlley provide the services we need. The Adininistrator estimated that abo~~t half of the proposed Brooks system in fhe City would be buried, and the other half overheacl. Fahey as]<ed if the City had a solid le~al opinion on the issue of requiring the Uuryiug of lines. The City Attorney replied thlt he h1s ~~ot researched the issue, but felt the issue of ~ise of public rights-of-way will ultimately end up in the Supreme Court. Scalze poi~~ted out that Broolcs-Fiber has indicated that their fiber can be buried, b~it it is 110% more expe~~sive tl~an hanging it on the existing poles. Pedersen pointed out that there is the issue of the next utility company that comes in aski~~g to install overhead wires to consider. Pedersen suggested that one additionll wire may uot be a problem, but the addition of several more would be. Scalze indicated that her greater fear was if Brooks-Fiber is allowed overhead installatia~, how would tl~e City say no to the next utility coin~airy makin~ the same request. Carson pointed otiit tl~at d~e overhead wires in town now provide electric, phone, and cable TV seivice to the residents of the City. I3rooks-Fiber is just passing throu~h Little Canada and will not be providing a se~vice to residential property owners. Carson pointed out that since Brooks,Fiber is just passing through Little Can~da, they will want to do so in tl~e least expensive way tl~ey c~n. 10