Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newton approves $55,000 budget transfer for pole‑attachment audit to reconcile AT&T and Charter charges
Summary
The council approved a $55,000 budget ordinance amendment to fund a vendor audit of utility pole attachments required by agreements with AT&T and Charter, with costs to be allocated after inventory; staff estimates current annual pole‑attachment revenue of roughly $39,000 (AT&T) and $42,900 (Charter) subject to audit.
Newton City Council voted unanimously Jan. 19 to transfer $55,000 from contingency to fund a pole‑attachment audit required under existing joint‑use agreements with AT&T and Charter.
Electric Supervisor Doug Wesson explained the June 2019 joint‑use agreement with AT&T and a 2006 agreement with Charter require a physical inventory of attachments so billing reflects actual counts. Staff has engaged a vendor that previously collected attachment data and obtained AT&T approval to proceed. Wesson said the city will share audit costs and allocate final charges to each party according to the agreements after counts are completed.
Wesson told council staff estimates current annual revenues at approximately $39,000 from AT&T and $42,900 from Charter, but said final amounts could change depending on audit results and future attachments. Council approved the budget ordinance amendment to pay the vendor and directed staff to allocate costs per contract language.
