Minutes-01/11/1989

The Tiffin City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, January 11, 1989 at the fire station. Mayor Potter called meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Spivey, Stoner, Stratton, Eggers and Morgan. Also present were Mike Hart, Stephen Greenleaf, Todd Kimm, Richard Rugger and a Johnson County Sheriff's deputy. During community forum, Morgan suggested that Bob Herring attend all council meetings in order to improve communications. Herring will be paid his hourly rate for meeting attendance. Council agreed. Mayor will talk to Herring. Motion Morgan second Stratton to approve agenda. Carried unanimously. Motion Spivey second Stratton to approve minutes of regular meeting December 14, 1988. Carried unanimously. Hart reported that he wrote to General Electric Credit Corporation for information on the water tower easement, but has not had a response, yet. Spivey reported that he talked with Bill Rogers who referred him to Leonard Vorel about an easement. Vorel suggested a sixty (60) foot right of way, with retainment of property owner's right of entrance to the field. Council questioned whether there is 60 feet available there. Hart stated that 60 feet sounded like a future street dedication and stated that it might not be allowable under city ordinance. Council instructed Hart to talk with property owners (Leonard Vorel) about access easement to water tower and to work out width with owners. Greenleaf reported that the Iowa State Bank property is still tied up with the Chicago, Rock Island Railroad bankruptcy. The bank is responsible for providing documents from the railroad but is having difficulty in obtaining documents. Rugger stated that the cable will be hooked up in two weeks. He plans to sell Rugger Communications to Vantage Cable from Des Moines with a tentative closing date of May 1, 1989, but will not sell if having any problems with the system at that time. Vantage Cable bought Liberty Communications which has nine towns in this area. Everything will remain local and run out of Liberty Communications' office in Iowa City. Liberty office will do billing and answer problem calls with same day service. The ordinance and franchise will remain exactly the same. Vantage will add 6 channels to Basic. The user fee will remain the same as Rugger's verbal agreement at the start of the project. Rugger will do all digging for Vantage in the future. All mains are installed and Rugger will be back in March or April to bury the drops to the houses. Potter asked Rugger to move the junction box which in the ditch by 110 Main Street before the company is sold and also asked for a good map. Rugger stated that he would give the city a good map of the mains and they wouldn't need a map of the drops to the houses. Rugger stated that anyone digging in town could call Liberty Communications and they will locate the buried lines. Mayor read agreement for sale of Rugger Communications to Vantage Cable. Motion Eggers second Stratton to approve sales of Rugger Communication to Vantage Cable of Des Moines, Iowa. Carried unanimously.