The Yuma City Council learned of the new ownership for Kentec Communications, Inc. during its regular meeting last week.
Mayor Ron Swehla, Mayor Pro-tem Marc Shay, Terri Frame, Tim McClung, Jerome Benish and Marylu Smith-Dischner were in attendance. Dan Baucke was absent.
The city has a franchise agreement with KCI for broadband services within the community. Therefore, the council passed a resolution transferring the franchise agreement to the new owner.
City Manager Scott Moore told the council KCI recently was purchased by Midwest Broadband Opportunities. He introduced Timothy Brinkman, who is CEO of Midwest.
Brinkman said KCI will still go by the same name. He explained that Midwest Broadband is a subsidiary Grand Valley Technologies, based in Erskine, Minnesota.
He told the council that KCI will continue to be operated locally, and the new ownership plans to keep building out KCI’s broadband network and make improvements.
Pot holes
Herbie Gordo addressed the council during public comment, referring to one particularly bad pot hole by his father Santos’ house on Gum St. He said it has been filled in the past but was wondering if something more permanent could be done. He said it is about six to seven inches deep.
Shay asked if it was a result of a drainage problem. Moore said that plays role, but it is mostly due to a lot of traffic. He said the city crew will give it another shot.
When asked, Gordo said the pot hole is a year-round issue, and he felt that whole stretch of Gum St. needs to be addressed.
Swehla told Gordo to continue working with Moore on the issue, and if nothing is done, then come back to the council.
“All the discussions I have had with Scott have been awesome, and I appreciate what he has done so far,” Gordo said.
Moore later reported to the council that pot holes are being filled with a temporary filling until warmer weather arrives to do a more permanent solution.
More meeting
The City of Yuma is in the process of updating the Yuma Municipal Code. The council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance as part of that effort.
Livestock control is a key part of this particular ordinance, and several other sections are being repealed and reenacted. One can read the full ordinance inside this edition under “Public Notices.”
The council voted to move the first meeting in April from April 2 to Monday, April 1, as April 2 is election day. City Clerk Karma Wells said the city will have to wait eight days after the election to finalize the results.
Cindy Korf was appointed to the Yuma Library Board.
A purchase of 33 street lights from Western United for $28,845.96 was unanimously approved. The street lights will be installed along Homestead Trail and around Lake Yuma. It is a budgeted expenditure.
A resolution amending “avoided cost rate” with MEAN was approved. It deals with customers who would produce more energy than they use.
A report of changes for Cobblestone Inn & Suites was approved on a 6-0 vote, in relation to Cobblestone’s liquor license.
Council members provided reports of various committee meetings.