(Orleans)– The Orleans city council voted unanimously Wednesday to accept the Opportunity is Calling Committee recommendation to hire the engineering firm of Black and Veitch to conduct a study into the feasibility of starting up a municipal telecommunications utility.
Three other lakes area cities where voters approved a referendum last November to go ahead with the study have also approved the recommendation. The Arnolds Park, Okoboji and Wahpeton city councils have also approved the recommendation to hire the firm. The Spirit Lake city council last week defeated a motion to accepte the committee’s recommendation with atleast one council member again expressing his opposition to Mayor Eric Nielsen’s appointment to the OCC.
An Orleans city council member expressed concern over the Spirit Lake city council’s action and whether it means the four cities still involved would have to pay more for the study. The way it stands now, Orleans’ share of the study cost will be 4,789-dollars. Pat McNorton, who represents the city of Spirit Lake and is Chairman of the Opportunity is Calling Committtee, said he’s still hopeful the Spirit Lake city council will reconsider its action. So far though there’s no indication of that happening.
