8/13/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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AUG 131980 $QpK 44 pAcE 243 COMMISSIONER LOY THOUGHT THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE THE FINANCIAL FIGURES OF THE LOCAL COMPANY, AND SUGGESTED IT BE INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT THAT THE BOARD REQUIRE THEM TO KEEP FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE CABLEVISION OPERATION IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY. THE ATTORNEY FELT THAT WAS A REASONABLE REQUEST. CHAIRMAN SIEBERT SUGGESTED THE PHRASE, "SUBJECT TO ANY FRANCHISE FEE THAT THE COUNTY MAY IMPOSE" BE PUT INTO THE AGREEMENT. ATTORNEY COLLINS ADVISED THAT THE PURPOSE OF A FRANCHISE FEE IS TO RAISE REVENUE IN ORDER TO SUPERVISE, AND ALSO TO RECOMPENSATE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE USE OF RIGHTS—OF—WAY. COMMISSIONER WODTKE COMMENTED THAT HE ATTENDED SEVERAL SEMINARS WHILE IN LAS VEGAS CONCERNING CABLE TELEVISION, AND WAS INFORMED THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD CERTAINLY PUT STANDARDS ON THE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANIES AND TO KEEP THINGS AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE. HE CONTINUED THAT, IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE BOARD DOES HAVE AN OPPOR— TUNITY TO REVIEW FRANCHISING, WE MUST KEEP OURSELVES OPEN TO NEGOTIATE AND MAKE THESE FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO US, CHAIRMAN SIEBERT STATED THAT HE AGREED — WHEN WE HAVE A SUBJECT OF OVERWHELMING INTEREST TO GET ACROSS TO THE PUBLIC, THIS IS WHEN CABLE TELEVISION COULD BE USED. CHAIRMAN SIEBERT ASKED IF ANY ONE PRESENT WISHED TO BE HEARD. WILLIAM KOOLAGE, INTERESTED CITIZEN, CAME BEFORE THE BOARD AND WONDERED IF, AT THE TIME THE RATE INCREASE WAS GRANTED RECENTLY TO THE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY, THERE WAS A FRANCHISE FEE BEING CHARGED IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, ATTORNEY COLLINS NOTED THAT WAS CORRECT; THEY WERE TRYING TO EQUALIZE THEIR RATES. MR. KOOLAGE COMMENTED THAT AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTY AND A USER OF CABLE TELEVISION, HE FELT WE SHOULD HAVE LEVIED A FRANCHISE FEE AT THAT TIME. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MR. KOOLAGE WAS REFERRING TO FLORIDA CABLEVISION, AND NOT THIS SYSTEM, WHICH IS IN THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY.