Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Contracts And Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dallas board approves pole-attachment deals, budget amendment for emissions scrubbers and other routine measures
Summary
At its April 9 meeting (reconvened April 23), the Town of Dallas Board of Aldermen approved a new AT&T joint-use pole agreement, executed a pole-attachment agreement with Charter, authorized a budget amendment to buy two diesel-generator emissions scrubbers, approved participation in Project CONNECT, designated Maria Stroupe as Town Finance Officer, and adopted a resolution to negotiate financing for a water line replacement project.
The Town of Dallas Board of Aldermen approved a package of utility agreements, a budget amendment to meet federal emissions requirements, and several administrative resolutions during meetings on April 9 (with a reconvened session April 23).
Pole-attachment agreements: The board approved a new Joint Use Agreement with AT&T that standardizes construction, maintenance and removal responsibilities and increases the per-attachment fee on town poles to $17.50 per pole per year. Staff reported Dallas has 903 poles and AT&T 779, with a net excess of AT&T attachments on town poles of 124; the new fee increases annual revenue from a previous $124 to approximately $2,170 based on current counts. The board also approved the town’s first formal pole-attachment agreement with Charter Communications, which sets a $15 per-pole per-year fee and is projected to provide about $14,850 per year based on Charter’s current 990 attachments.
Emissions-control equipment and budget amendment: To comply with recent federal emissions mandates, the Electric Department sought and the board approved a budget amendment to purchase emission-scrubber catalyst units for two Caterpillar peak-shaving diesel generators. Staff said the lowest available price for purchase, installation and testing is $75,360.41 per unit and that the sole competent supplier (Carolina Engine) would raise prices by at least 15% after April 30. To avoid that increase, the board approved buying both units now rather than delaying one until FY2014.
Resolutions and agreements: The board adopted a resolution designating Maria Stroupe as the Town Finance Officer (staff noted the state-required surety bond of $50,000 and a town crime-coverage insurance requirement). The board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the CONNECT Consortium allowing Dallas to participate in Project CONNECT, a Centralina Council of Governments regional strategic planning effort funded by HUD, with staff and elected appointees named to program and policy forums. Separately, the board approved a resolution authorizing staff to negotiate an installment financing contract for a three-phase water line replacement project.
Other routine items: The board declared a 1998 Chevrolet 3/4-ton truck (unit #337) surplus and authorized its sale on GovDeals with a minimum reserve; it set FY2014 budget work session dates (May 23, with May 28 as a backup); approved closing Holland Street for the 'Meet You At The Square' fundraiser on June 8 but declined to close Main Street unless later needed; and recessed the April 9 meeting to reconvene April 23 to handle ordinance codification and repeal. On April 23 the board held a public hearing on outdated ordinances identified during codification and voted to repeal or change the listed ordinances as presented.
Votes at a glance - Approve AT&T Joint Use Agreement (increase to $17.50 per pole per attachment per year): moved by Alderman Beaty; carried unanimously (6-0). - Approve Charter Communications pole-attachment agreement ($15 per pole per year): moved by Alderman Huggins; carried unanimously (6-0). - Approve budget amendment to purchase two emissions scrubbers at $75,360.41 each: moved by Alderman Beaty; carried unanimously (6-0). - Adopt resolution designating Maria Stroupe as Town Finance Officer (surety bond $50,000): moved by Alderman Martin; carried unanimously (6-0). - Approve MOU with CONNECT Consortium and appointees to forums: moved by Alderman Withers; carried unanimously (6-0). - Declare unit #337 surplus and authorize sale on GovDeals: moved by Alderman Beaty; carried unanimously (6-0). - Adopt resolution authorizing negotiation of installment financing for three-phase water line replacement: moved by Alderman Beaty; carried unanimously (6-0). - Recess April 9 meeting to April 23 and on April 23 adopt repeals/changes to outdated ordinances after public hearing: motions moved by Alderman Beaty; carried unanimously (6-0).
The votes were recorded as unanimous in the minutes. The board did not record any dissenting comments in the meeting minutes; staff said the Charter and AT&T agreements, the finance designation, and the financing resolution had been reviewed by the town attorney and relevant department heads before approval.
