Culpeper council reviews Summit IG bid, schedules first reading of 20-year conduit franchise ordinance

Town of Culpeper staff told the council that the town received a single bid from Summit IG LLC for a 20-year conduit franchise that would permit installation of underground telecommunications conduit within the town right-of-way.

Aaron (staff member) said the company requested authorization to install up to approximately 24,000 linear feet of conduit and proposed an annual conduit fee beginning at $1.51 per linear foot, with automatic annual escalations of 3% or the consumer price index, whichever is greater. Aaron said staff estimated annual revenues at full build-out could be approximately $36,000 per year. "The recommendation is that council holds the reading of ordinance 020250003 and accepts the bid for granting a telecommunication conduit facilities construction agreement franchise to Summit IG LLC," Aaron told the council.

Mayor Reeves opened a public hearing on Ordinance 020250003 and noted the town had advertised the franchise as required for agreements longer than five years. No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Staff counted the single bid during the public hearing phase and forwarded the materials to the clerk.

The council did not record a final vote on the ordinance at this meeting. Staff announced the ordinance reading was scheduled for May 13, 2025, and included a staff notation of "Effective 04/08/2025" in the record. The council held no subsequent motion or roll-call vote on final adoption during the April meeting.

Background: staff described the fiscal effects as dependent on actual footage installed and noted the fee escalator would compound annually. The town will return for the scheduled reading; any final approval would have to be recorded in a later meeting.