(Arnolds Park)– City councils in the five Dickinson county municipalities that approved the municipal cable t.v. and telecommunications measure that was on the ballot in Tuesday’s election will soon decide if they want to proceed with a feasibility study into starting up such a system.
Arnolds Park City Administrator Ron Walker says if they DO decide to proceed, the cities will first need to form a 28E agreement, followed by the selection of legal counsel. Once those things have been done, Walker says the next step would be to obtain a request for proposals form engineering firms that specialize in doing feasibility studies. They would then review those and a firm would be hired.
Voters in Spirit Lake, Orleans, Wahpeton, Arnolds Park and Okoboji approved a measure on Tuesday’s ballot that gives those cities authority to go ahead with a study if they so choose. The average approval was 70 percent.
A constultant that was working with a local group calling for a yes vote, “Opportunity is Calling”, recommended a feasibility study NOT be pursued if the measure didn’t get approval from atleast 70 percent of those who voted. Seeing how the overall approval just made 70 percent, Walker says the cities will closely factor that into their decision as they consider whether to pursue a study.
