January 22, 2002
Council considers competeing cable companies
By Cathy Willoughby
Staff Writer
cwilloughby@advertiser-tribune.com
The possibility of a competing cable franchise was broached to the Tiffin City Council Monday evening.
Roger Wise of Fostoria, his son, Timothy, and Douglas Asplin of Grand Rapids, spoke briefly to the council of their desire to operate a franchise in the city. Roger presented a sample ordinance to council members.
Asplin said he was building the physical plant for Wise Communications. When asked of the firm's objectives, Tim mentioned the possibility of additional basic tier offerings to the area television consumer. A local office will be established, with 24-hour telephone access.
A statement issued by Wise Communications said its goal was "to give our service customers a channel line-up that will provide a maximum of 'must carry' signals, as well as the most wanted signals, at a lower cost to the consumer.''
The sample ordinance and request was referred to the Utilities and Related Services committee.
Director of Law Brent Howard informed the council he was still working to see if a credit could be included in the sewer rate increase legislation for Miami Street residents.
He said he was consulting additional legal counsel and Jones and Henry to gather factual information on the relationship of the Miami Street storm sewer project and the sanitary sewer system. With it, they hope to see the justification of giving the credit, Howard said. Legislation should be prepared by the first meeting in February.
Referred to the Law and Community Planning committee was a request from the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC) for an enterprise zone tax abatement for National Machinery Corp.
Seneca Habitat for Humanity also requested a waiver of fees, such as sewer tap-in costs, for the six new homes the group is building at the corner of First Avenue and Vine Street. Totaling $240, Director Suzanne Donaldson wrote to the council that the group sought to be good stewards of the group's donated funds.
The new residences are in the location of a former grocery. The matter was referred to the Law and community Planning Committee. The committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The council also heard the first reading of a resolution that would reimburse Mayor Bernard Hohman for any expenses incurred on behalf of the city in connection with referendum efforts to repeal Senate Bill 5, which dealt with annexation.
Although named personally in the lawsuit, Hohman was acting as the head of a municipality, in the city of Tiffin's behalf. As a member of a group that traveled to Columbus to speak against the legislation, Hohman was named in the suit.
The suit is filed by a resident of the city of Pickerington, which Hohman said used public money toward the referendum efforts. The city of Tiffin did not, Howard said.
"The legal issue is, can a municipality spend funds on that kind of purpose,'' he said. "That's the ultimate legal issue, that has not been resolved. There is not sufficient case law. It may be litigated all the way up to the Supreme Court.''