11/14/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOV 141919 BOOK 42 PAuE p MR. HAIMOWITZ INFORMED THE BOARD THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES' SALARIES HAVE BEEN KEPT WITHIN THE 7% GUIDELINES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT EXPENSES NOW HAVE RISEN SO HIGH THAT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE UP TO THEIR STANDARDS AND MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM PROPERLY, THEY MUST HAVE AN INCREASE. COMMISSIONER SIEBERT FELT THAT MR. HAIMOWITZ INTENDED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE A RURAL SYSTEM RATHER THAN AN URBAN SYSTEM. MR. HAIMOWITZ AGREED THAT THEY ARE A RURAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS DEFINED AS 30 HOMES PER MILE OR LESS. HE STATED THAT MOST OF THE CABLE COMPANIES BUILT IN THE LARGER CITIES, SUCH AS VERO BEACH, ARE CONSIDERED URBAN SYSTEM, AND HAVE 40 HOMES PER MILE OR MORE. MR. HAIMOWITZ NOTED THAT IN SOME AREAS HIS SYSTEM HAS 23 HOMES OR LESS PER MILE. COMMISSIONER SIEBERT ASKED WHAT PROVISIONS THERE WERE FOR ANSWERING COMPLAINTS. MR. HAIMOWITZ INFORMED HIM THAT THEY HAVE A SYSTEM OF WORK ORDERS. DURING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS THEY USED TO BE ON AN ANSWERING SERVICE, WHICH WAS UNSATISFACTORY. NOW THEY HAVE A TAPE RECORDING DEVICE WHICH GIVES THE NAME AND NUMBER OF THEIR STANDBY MAN, AND EXCEPT WHEN HE IS OUT WORKING ON THE SYSTEM, HE CAN BE REACHED. IN MOST INSTANCES, MR. HAIMOWITZ STATED THAT THEY PROVIDE SERVICE WITHIN 24 HOURS. AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE OVERWHELMED WITH PEOPLE COMING DOWN FROM THE NORTH, BUT IN MOST INSTANCES, THEY ARE BEING CONNECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS. CHAIRMAN WODTKE INQUIRED.ABOUT THE 400% INCREASE IN TAXES AND LICENSES LISTED IN THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENT. MR. HAIMOWITZ STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY TAXES AND EXPLAINED THAT BREVARD COUNTY WENT UNDER A NEW SURVEY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH STATE DIRECTION, AND INSTEAD OF PAYING BASED ON REAL PROPERTY, THEY PAY ON THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS INSTALLED WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THE LABOR THAT IT COST TO PUT IT IN - THEY PUT IT ON A PER SUBSCRIBER BASIS. THAT HAS SINCE BEEN REVOKED. THEY DID PAY IT FOR THAT YEAR, BUT WILL GET A CREDIT. HE CONTINUED THAT THE