Comcast requests pole access

Ronnie Colvin, senior director of external affairs with Comcast, approached the Holly Springs Board of Aldermen and Mayor for permission to attach fiber optic to the utility poles through the city.

He said the pass through will join existing fiber from the Memphis area to rural areas downstream in Benton county and to the south.

Colvin asked for a pole attachment agreement, but will not be offering broadband to residents of Holly Springs.

Colvin said Comcast has 50 franchises with towns and counties and pole attachment agreements with electric cooperatives and some municipal electric distributors.

The pass through Holly Springs would connect fiber from Memphis and run south to Mobile, Ala.

“The missing link is Holly Springs,” he said.

Mayor Sharon Gipson said she does not want to disturb the opportunity for the city to have broadband “Without further information to make sure were were not just a link in the chain to meet some needy parts of Marshall County.”

Colvin said Comcast wants to serve rural areas not already served today over the whole state.

Madison County approved a $20 million project to serve the northeast of the county, he said.

“We have done rural broadband agreements statewide looking at pockets and areas that do not have broadband,” he said.

“It looked like you were going to go around the city,” Gipson said.

Colvin said Comcast has no plan to offer broadband services in Holly Springs.

“It’s the same as New Albany, just a through way,” he said.

The company serves 2,175 houses in Madison County, he said.

Gipson asked what part of Marshall County would be served.

Colvin said Comcast responded to requests for proposals from Madison and DeSoto counties, as one of four operators responding to the RFP.

“We need a fiber route franchising agreement for right-of-way,” Colvin said. “We will cross the city of Holly Springs and can get a route to the city.

Comcast also needs a pole attachment agreement with the city.

Colvin said he will provide a map.

“The city attorney will need to look at those agreements,” said Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather.

Constable Michael Perkins asked the city to purchase an archway and plaque to display at Sam Coopwood Park in honor of the late Danny Warren.

The plaque would be a metal sheet three feet by six feet and hold a brass image of Warren. The arch, which will be placed in front of the concessions on the south end of the field, would provide an archway for players to walk through during games, he said.

He asked the city to pay $2,500 to build and erect the arch.

Gipson expressed appreciation to Perkins for the project. Perkins wants the arch ready by Sept. 15 in time for the homecoming game of the Holly High Hawks.

Afterward the board approved a motion to pay for the construction of the archway.

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel expressed unease at the measure.

“If the attorney is uneasy, it makes me uneasy,” Teel said.

Gipson said paying for the plaques is not like giving to an organization or committee.

Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain said it would be similar to the city erecting a sign to rename the gymnasium on Sims Middle School campus to honor Jessie Jackson.

Gipson said the city could select whoever it wants to construct the archway.

Attorney Garret Estes asked to postpone action until attorney John Perry arrived at the meeting.

In other city business, the board of aldermen:

• approved a emergency responders’ parade in downtown Monday Sept. 12 in memory of those who died in the Sept. 11 attack on the United States September 11, 2001.

• authorized travel expenses for fire chief Rodney Crane, Shane Wommack, and Leron Weeks to attend the Mississippi Fire Investigators fall seminar.

• learned the mayor has received a report from IMS Engineers that recommends the pavilion at Spring Hollow Park be torn down and rebuilt, perhaps at a different location.

• approved a resolution regarding the cast-iron gas pipe replacement project.

• held an executive session to consider possible litigation at HSUD and personnel in the departments of Parks and Recreation and Police.

• received $43,854 into the general fund from the state fire rebate monies. An additional rebate of $1,163 was also transferred into the general fund.

• transferred $60,217 from Homestead to the operating fund.

• authorized travel for the mayor and board to attend classes in Oxford.

• approved travel for Gipson to attend True South Basic Economic Development.

• authorized street closures Sept. 16 for the Holly Springs High School Homecoming parade.