06-23-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL Monday, June 23, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 30 (4. MEDIACOM BUILD-OUT UPDATE, Continued) Jensen indicated it is a combination of both. Jensen stated there are two different types of cable construction. One is FTTP, fiber to the premise, and the other is HFC or hybrid fiber optic coaxial cable plan. Jensen stated they run fiber optic cable as a main line and on the side streets three-quarter inch feeder cable is run, which is the coaxial cable. Jensen indicated the HFC is the industry’s state-of-the-art technology. Jensen noted late last fall Mediacom ran fiber directly to the Orono city hall facility. McMillan asked if the City’s fiber is hooked up. Loftus stated the City’s fiber is connected from Old Crystal Bay Road and that it is her belief the City was given an end of July date to connect the building into that fiber line. Loftus stated the City has signed a service contract for Internet to be provided over that fiber cable. McMillan asked when he anticipates the build-out for this year will be completed. Jensen indicated by early August they should be finished with the planned build-out for 2014. Jensen noted there is a Minnesota state broadband fund where grant funds could perhaps be obtained from to help extend broadband to underserved areas in Orono. Jensen stated Mediacom is looking at applying for some funds if they are released this year and using those funds to expand service in the green areas depicted on the map. Jensen noted there would not be any obligation from the City associated with those funds. Loftus noted she did receive a few communications from residents and that the City did provide notification that this would be an agenda item tonight. Loftus indicated there may be some residents that would like to address some of their remarks to the City Council as well as Mr. Jensen. There were no public comments regarding this item. The City Council took no formal action on this item. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS – CHRISTOPHER McGRANN, REPRESENTATIVE McGrann stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. PUBLIC COMMENTS Beth Johnson, 1376 Baldur Park Road, stated she would like to thank the City Council, City Staff, and the Public Works Department for coming to their neighborhood to see what is happening with the water. Johnson noted she and her husband own the Navarre True Value and that they have been hired by some of their neighbors to help protect their homes from flooding. Johnson stated Baldur Park Road is close to Maxwell Bay Landing and North Shore Landing and that their road is basically completely under water at the present time. Johnson displayed photographs of the road on the overhead and the berm.