(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council Tuesday took no action on whether or not a committee looking into the feasibility of establishing a municipal telecommunications utility should proceed to the next step…a market analysis.
The Opportunity is Calling Committee was recently presented with the findings of an initial feasibility study that showed far fewer than expected would be willing to switch services to a municipal provider.
Jeff Smith, the city’s representative on the committee, told the council they have several options, including the possibility of re-doing the first study in Spirit Lakeonly, or proceeding to the market analysis…the cost of which isn’t known. The council directed Smith to meet with the consultant firm that conducted the initial sutdy to get a cost of the next phase and report back to the council.
A public hearing on an environmental assessment for the site of a proposed new 1.5 million gallon water tower to be constructed at the corner of 36th Street and Hill Avenue was also held Tuesday evening. Mark Hardy of the Howard R. Green Engineering Firm says the study is needed because federal funding would be involved in the project. He says the site so far has turned up no concern among the various groups that have been contacted.
Construction of the new tower would take place in 2006 and 2007. The existing water tower behind the high school would then be dismantled. No action was taken as a result of Tuesday’s hearing.
In other business, the council voted four-to-one to grant a 196-thousand dollar forgivable loan to the Troyka Group for the rennovation of the Antler’s Hotel building. City Attorney Earl Maahs says such an arrangement will force the developers to stick by their original plans.
The council also approved a Utility Committee recommendation to pay for materials only for a storm sewer project on Memphis Avenue; and they approved another recommendation from the same committee to waive the building permit fees for Shepherd’s Fold Ministries for the construction of “Cherish House” on the city’s southwest side.
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