Hoyt council backs Cox fiber project, approves 5% franchise fee

The Hoyt City Council voted March 4 to support Cox Communications’ planned fiber project in the city and to approve a 5% franchise fee tied to the project. Megan Bottenberg, a Cox Communications representative, briefed the council on the construction timeline and process and said the project has been approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission. She said a Cox construction representative will coordinate with city maintenance staff about proposed locations and utilities.

Councilmember Joe Romans moved to support the project and to approve levying a 5% franchise fee; Leonard Allen seconded and the motion carried. The council did not record individual roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes; the clerk’s record states only that the motion passed.

Why it matters: a franchise fee provides a predictable local revenue stream tied to a utility operator’s use of city rights-of-way; approval of council support helps Cox proceed with local coordination and placement work. The council’s approval is a local endorsement rather than a grant of final construction permits: Bottenberg said the project already has KCC approval and that Cox will follow required permitting and utility coordination steps with city staff.

What happens next: Cox’s construction representative will contact city maintenance staff (Kenny Bryan) to discuss specific locations and utility impacts. Council discussion also touched on the franchise-fee amount; no ordinance adopting the fee was finalized in the minutes and the clerk did not list an effective date for the fee.