HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/14/1981TUESDAY, JULY 1b, 1981
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, MET IN SPECIAL SESSION AT THE SEBASTIAN COMMUNITY CENTER,.
CENTRAL AVENUE, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, ON TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1981, AT
7:30 O'CLOCK P.M. PRESENT WERE PATRICK B. LYONS, CHAIRMAN;
WILLIAM C. WODTKE, .JR., VICE CHAIRMAN; DICK BIRD; ALFRED DROVER
FLETCHER; AND DON C. SCURLOCK, .JR. ALSO PRESENT WERE NEIL A. NELSON,
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR; L. S. "TOMMY" THOMAS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL 000RDI-
NATOR; GEORGE G. COLLINS, .JR., ATTORNEY TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS; AND VIRGINIA HARGREAVES, DEPUTY CLERK.
THE CHAIRMAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCED TF:1'
IT WAS CALLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING A PUBLIC HEAPING ON A RAT_
INCREASE REQUESTED BY .JONES INTERCABLE, INC.
PUBLIC HEARING - RATE INCREASE REQUESTED BY JONES INTERCABLE, INC,
THE HOUR OF 7:30 O'CLOCK P.M. HAVING PASSED, THE DEPUTY CLERK
READ THE FOLLOWING NOTICE WITH PROOF OF PUBLICATION ATTACHED, TO -WIT:
VERO BEACH PRESS -JOURNAL
Published Weekly
Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida
COUNTY OF INDIAN RIVER:
STATE OF FLORIDA
Before the undersigned authority personally appeared J. J. Schumann, Jr. who on oath
says that he is Business Manager of the Vero Beach Press -Journal, a weekly newspaper published
at Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement, being
a
in the
Court, was pub-
lished in said newspaper in the issues of .29— ZAZtz - r, f
or
Affiant further says that the said Vero Beach Press -Journal is a newspaper published at
Vero Beach, in said Indian River County, and that the said newspaper has heretofore
been continuously published in said Indian River County, Florida, weekly and has been entered
as second class mail matter at the post office in Vero Beach, in said Indian River County, Florida
for a period of one year next preceeding the first publication of the attached copy of adver-
tisement; and affiant further says that he has neither paid nor promised any person, firm or
corporation any discount, rebate, commission or refund for the purpose of securing this adver-
tisement for publication in the said newspaper.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
ZIA
z MMIN a
ABusyrilw�s Manager)
(SEAL) (Clerk of the Circuit Court, Indian•Ri er County, Florida)
JUL 14 1981
Nwries OF NEARING
All Interested parties are hereby notified
that the Board of County commissioners of
Indian River County will hold a public hearing
v�g ,ly�y_14,.1961.,_a► 7:30, p.m. in the Sebastian
Community Center located on North Central
Ave., Sebastian, Florida to consider the
request of Jones Intercable, Inc. for the ap-
proval of the following rate increases:.
Residential basic monthly charge from $7.25
to $8.50.
Reconnection of residential cable service
from $7.50 to $12.50.
All other charges to remain unchanged.
Board of County Commissioners
Of Indian River County.
By: Patrick B. Lyons,
Chairman
June 24, July 5, 1981-
mo,K, 4 PACE 813
JUL 141981
BOOK .4 6 PA^E
814
NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS SENT TO JONES INTERCABLE
INC. SUBSCRIBERS AS PER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT SIGNED BY MANAGER
WILLIAM SISK:
P.O. Box 327
Sebastian, Florida 32958
;onE.N incERCAME-
305/589.3848
Dear Subscriber,
Jones Intercable, Inc. has requested approval from the
Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County to increase
the basic monthly charge for residential cable service from
$7.25 to $5.50 and to increase the residential reconnection
charge from $7.50 to $12.50. No other increases are being
sought. The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River
County has scheduled a public hearing in the Sebastian
Community Center located on North Central Ave. Sebastian,
Florida on July 14, 19$1 at 7:30 p.m. All interested
parties are invited to provide their comments.
Sincerely,
Bill Sisk
System Manager
C C
•r
6�:44 � � 4 d -IS)
ATTORNEY COLLINS INQUIRED IF ANYONE PRESENT HAD NOT RECEIVED
NOTICE AS ABOVE, AND ONE GENTLEMAN STATED THAT THE ONLY NOTICE OF
WHICH HE WAS AWARE WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER. THE ATTORNEY INFORMED THE
BOARD THAT THE NOTICE WAS LEGALLY SUFFICIENT.
S
WILLIAM SISK, MANAGER OF JONES INTERCABLE, INC., MADE
THE PRESENTATION. THE BROCHURE CONTAINING ALL INFORMATION REGARDING
PRICE INDEX COMPARISON — INCOME STATEMENTS — SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS —
CAPITAL COMMITMENTS, ETC., IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK.
MR. SISK STATED THAT OBVIOUSLY INFLATION HAS PLAYED A MAJOR
FACTOR IN THEIR ASKING FOR AN INCREASE, AND HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN WHY
THEY FEEL THEY MERIT AN INCREASE OF OVER 17%, WHICH IS WITHIN THE 18%
INDICATED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. HE NOTED THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES
HAVE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL SALARY INCREASE BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO
ATTRACT AS PROFESSIONAL A GROUP AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO AFFORD A
HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE. ALSO, THEY HAVE HIRED A CHIEF ENGINEER TO
HELP CORRECT ANY DEFICIENCIES. MR. SISK THEN REVIEWED THEIR CHANGES
IN PROGRAMMING, NOTING THAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO REPLACE THEIR WEAK
SIGNALS WITH MUCH STRONGER ONES; THEY ARE PLANNING TO BRING IN AN
ALL SPORTS CHANNEL 24 HOURS A DAY TO BE INCLUDED IN THEIR BASIC
PACKAGE AND HAVE ALREADY ADDED SUPERSTATION WTBS OUT OF ATLANTA IN
THE SAME BASIC PACKAGE. MR. SISK EMPHASIZED THAT THERE ARE SOME
SIGNALS THEY CANNOT DEPEND ON, AND BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE FRO
THEY ORIGINATE, THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT, I.E., �,.,,NEL 5
FROM WEST PALM BEACH PHASES IN AND OUT AND THEY WILL BE DROPPING WESH
OUT OF DAYTONA BEACH BECAUSE OF CO—CHANNEL TROUBLE.
MR. SISK THEN REVIEWED THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE
BEEN INSTALLING SINCE TAKING OVER FROM INDIAN RIVER CABLEVISION AND
INFORMED THE BOARD THAT THEY ARE AN 100% UNDERGROUND SYSTEM, WHICH
IS ADVANTAGEOUS AS FAR AS AESTHETICS ARE CONCERNED, BUT NOT WHEN IT
COMES TO LOCATING A BREAK IN THE CABLE. HE NEXT REVIEWED SOME OF
THEIR FINANCIAL FIGURES WHICH SHOWED A NET LOSS OF OVER $373,000 IN
1050. PART OF THIS, OF COURSE, RELATED TO DEPRECIATION AND NON—CASH
ITEMS, AND PART AROSE FROM THE FACT THAT THEIR CABLE SYSTEM IS SPREAD
OVER A VERY LARGE AREA; THEY CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 2,800 SUBSCRIBERS,
OR AN AVERAGE OF 25 PER MILE. THE SYSTEM IN FORT PIERCE, FOR INSTANCE,
HAS AN AVERAGE OF OVER 50 SUBSCRIBERS PER MILE. MR. SISK FURTHER
NOTED THAT 2/3 OF THEIR BUDGET FOR REBUILDING PURPOSES IS EARMARKED
FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, AND THEY ARE SEEKING A GREATER PROFESSIONALISM.
CHAIRMAN LYONS ASKED IF ANYONE PRESENT WISHED TO BE HEARD.
3
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J U L 141991
E. L. HICKS OF INDIAN RIVER ACRES INFORMED THE BOARD THAT
HIS OBJECTION WAS NOT AIMED AT THE RATE INCREASE BUT AT THE CHANGE IN
THE PROGRAMMING. HE EMPHASIZED THAT HE SUBSCRIBED TO THE CABLEVISION
FOR ENTERTAINMENT, AND HE DID NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR A CHANNEL WITH
211 HOURS OF RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES, 24 HOURS OF SPORTS, OR 24 HOURS
OF NEWS.
VICTOR HART OF GIFFORD STATED THAT MR. SISK'S PRESENTATION
HAD ANSWERED SOME OF HIS QUESTIONS IN REGARD TO WEAK SIGNALS, LINES
ACROSS THE SCREEN, AND THE PICTURE BLANKING OUT FROM TIME TO TIME,
WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE CORRECTED AS THEY ADD THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT.
MR, HART DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RATE INCREASE REQUESTED,
BUT JUST AS TO WHETHER IT WAS A VALID REQUEST AT THIS PARTICULAR
TIME BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE NOW EXPERIENCING.
BETTY RAINEY OF 84TH STREET, WABASSO, STATED THAT SHE HAD
NO OBJECTION TO THE NEW STATIONS OR THE PROGRAMMING WHEN SHE CAN SEE
IT, BUT HER RECEPTION IS SO POOR AND SNOWY MOST OF THE TIME THAT SHE
CAN'T SEE THE PROGRAMS.
JOHN E. SMITH OF SHADY REST INFORMED THE BOARD THAT HE HAS
A SUBSCRIBER TO THIS CABLE CONCERN FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS,
NOTED THAT ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO THE PEOPLE IN SHADY REST CAME TO
THE BOARD AND.TALKED ABOUT THE TROUBLES THEY HAD WITH CABLEVISION,
AND IT WAS PROMISED AT THAT TIME THAT THE COMPANY WOULD COME UP AND
INVESTIGATE THEIR PROBLEMS. THEY DID DO THAT AND CHECKED TWO OR THREE
SECTIONS. MR. SMITH STATED THAT SINCE THIS NEW COMPANY TOOK OVER, THE
RECEPTION I -S THE WORST HE HAS SEEN IN EIGHT YEARS. HE THEN DESCRIBED
THEIR RECEPTION PROBLEMS I -N DETAIL, AND STATED THAT HE WAS INFORMED
BY MR. SISK AND HIS STAFF THAT INTERFERENCE IS CUTTING IN ON CHANNELS
5 AND 12 AND SOMETIMES 9 AND THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
BERNARD ORMSBY COMPARED HIS CABLEVISION TO GETTING A C.O.D.
PACKAGE AND ONLY RECEIVING HALF THE GOODS YOU HAVE PAID FOR. HE FELT
THAT UNTIL THIS COMPANY CAN TAKE CARE OF WHAT THEY HAVE, THEY SHOULD
NOT RECEIVE ANY INCREASE IN RATES.
E. J. BERRY OF 7305 129TH STREET, INDIAN RIVER ACRES,
STATED THAT CHANNELS 5, 12, AND 9 ARE VERY BAD IN THEIR AREA, AND HE
COULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF GRANTING AN INCREASE UNTIL THEY IMPROVE WHAT
THEY HAVE NOW.
®, r
4
RICHARD SZELUGA OF 597 LAYPORT DRIVE, SEBASTIAN, PRESIDENT
OF VIDEO PRODUCTIONS OF INDIAN RIVER, INC., INFORMED THE BOARD THAT
HE IS AN INDEPENDENT TV PROGRAMMER AND PRODUCER AND HE HAS BEEN
TRYING TO ESTABLISH SOME SORT OF PROGRAMMING IN THE SEBASTIAN AREA.
HIS QUESTION RELATED TO WHETHER .JONES INTERCABLE ENTERTAINS ANY
POSSIBLE FUTURE PROGRAMMING OF LOCAL AREA NEWS AND EVENTS RATHER
THAN JUST NATIONAL NEWS, SPORTS, ETC. MR. SZELUGA COMMENTED ABOUT THE
FACT THAT CHANNEL 5 ORIGINATES FROM THE CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE OF WEST
PALM BEACH AND NOTED THAT AT TIMES THE CBERS CAUSE INTERFERENCE.
HE APPRECIATED THE PROBLEMS THE CABLE COMPANY IS FACED WITH AND
BELIEVED THEY WOULD IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE.
MR. SISK STATED THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED LOCAL PROGRAMMING
WITH MR. SZELUGA AND WHILE THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THIS,
THEY FIRST NEED TO GET THEIR REGULAR PROGRAMMING STRAIGHTENED OUT
AND RESOLVE THEIR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE A SMALL
SYSTEM, AND SUCH PROGRAMMING IS MARGINAL ECONOMICALLY EVEN FOR LARGE
SYSTEMS.
CHAIRMAN LYONS ASKED MR. SISK HOW MANY GOOD CHANNELS THEY
HAD AT THE PRESENT TIME, AND MR. SISK STATED THAT CHANNEL Z IS MARGINAL.
HE NOTED THAT ALL THE CHANGES THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING ARE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE SYSTEM. HE CONTINUED THAT CHANNEL 3
OUT OF ORLANDO IS CONSISTENTLY GOOD AND SO IS CHANNEL 4, THE
CHRISTIAN BROADCAST NETWORK. CHANNEL 5 IS GOOD FOR THE MOST PART,
BUT IT COMES FROM A LONG WAY OFF AND FADES OCCASIONALLY. CHANNELS
6 AND S ARE GOOD; 11 WHICH IS A LITTLE SHAKY ALSO COMES FROM A LONG
WAY OFF - THE TAMPA, ST. PETERSBURG AREA.
A LADY IN THE AUDIENCE OBJECTED TO MR. SISK'S RECITAL AND
STATED THAT HER CHANNELS ARE PRACTICALLY ALL BAD.
CHAIRMAN LYONS FELT IT IS APPARENT THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE
NOT GETTING AS GOOD RECEPTION AS OTHERS, AND HE ASKED MR. SISK WHAT
THEY INTEND TO DO ABOUT IT.
MR. SISK INTRODUCED RICK COLLUSO, FLORIDA REGIONAL MANAGER
FOR JONES INTERCABLE. MR. COLLUSO STATED'THAT SINCE PURCHASING FROM
INDIAN RIVER CABLEVISION, .JONES INTERCABLE HAS CHANGED A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF CABLE IN THIS AREA, AND OVERALL IN THEIR LAST FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION F.C.C.) TEST, THE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS
eoo 6 FADE 81°7
JUL 14 1901 5
JUL 141991
SYSTEM PROVED OUT TO BE ONE OF.THE BEST TESTS OVERALL IN THE STATE
OF FLORIDA. FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS, MR.
COLLUSO BELIEVED IT IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THERE WERE
PROBLEMS IN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, HE FELT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BOMBARDED
WITH COMPLAINTS, NOT ONLY THIS EVENING, BUT EVERY DAY. HE AGREED
THE SYSTEM IS NOT 100% BUT FELT THEY HAVE COME A LONG WAY.
PARS. ALICE SENSABAUGH OF SHADY REST STATED THAT SHE HAS
LIVED THERE EIGHT YEARS AND AGREED WITH MR. SMITH THAT THE RECEPTION
IS THE WORST THEY HAVE EVER HAD. SHE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT
PRACTICALLY 60% OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR TRAILER PARK ARE GONE ON SUMMER
VACATIONS OR THEY WOULD BE HERE COMPLAINING ALSO. SHE FELT IT WAS
NOT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON A RATE INCREASE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK COMMENTED THAT WHEN JONES INTERCABLE
TOOK OVER FROM INDIAN RIVER CABLEVISION, HE REMEMBERED VERY SPECIFICALLY
THAT THEY INDICATED TO THE SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL THAT THE SYSTEM THEY
WERE TAKING OVER HAD SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, BUT BECAUSE JONES INTER -
CABLE WAS A LARGE COMPANY, THEY HAD THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THE NECES-
SARY IMPROVEMENTS. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS TIMELY EXPANSION OF THE
SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK FELT .JONES INTERCABLE NEEDED TO
DEMONSTRATE A.SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF SERVICE BEFORE
RECEIVING ANY INCREASE, AND HE DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS IMPROVEMENT HAS
BEEN DEMONSTRATED AS YET.
MR. COLLUSO STATED THAT WHAT HE HAS HEARD SEEMS TO INDICATE
THERE MAY BE PROBLEM POCKETS IN ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC AREAS, BUT, IN
GENERAL, HE DID NOT FEEL THEY CAN BE COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM,
WHICH THEY TOOK OVER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. PSR. COLLUSO EMPHASIZED
THAT JONES INTERCABLE IS NOT BACKING OFF FROM THIS PROBLEM; HE
EXPLAINED THAT THEIR COMPANY IS A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FUND OF INVESTORS,
AND iF THEY DONT PERFORM, THEY ARE IN TROUBLE. HE STATED THAT THEY HAVE
HAD TO FACE INFLATION AND RISING COSTS, AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE, THEY
HAVE TO SEEK A RATE INCREASE.
CHAIRMAN LYONS NOTED THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROMISES ABOUT
CLEARING UP THE PROBLEMS IN SHADY REST, AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
THE CHAIRMAN STATED THAT HE DID NOT PLAN TO VOTE FOR ANY RATE INCREASE
UNTIL HE WAS ASSURED THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE SATISFACTORY SERVICE. HE
SUGGESTED THAT WE ALLOW JONES INTERCABLE POSSIBLY 90, 120 OR 180 DAYS
TO TRY TO CLEAR UP THIS PROBLEM AND CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL
THAT TIME.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK AGREED WITH THIS SUGGESTION AND
FURTHER FELT THAT THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER IS NOT THE MOST APPROPRIATE
TIME TO HEAR A RATE INCREASE.
COMMISSIONER WODTKE DISCUSSED THE FINANCIAL FIGURES PRE-
SENTED BY .JONES INTERCABLE, NOTING THAT SINCE .TUNE OF 1980 THROUGH
DECEMBER OF 1900 THEY HAVE INVESTED $211E,000 EXTRA CAPITAL. HE
ASKED IF .JONES INTERCABLE WAS WILLING TO PUT INTO THE RECORD THEIR
INTENT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNTS SET OUT IN THEIR REPORT -
$182,000 IN 1981 - $181,500 IN 1983 - $196,500 IN 198LI AND $2.07,500
IN 1985; MR. COLLUSO CONFIRMED THAT IS THEIR FIVE YEAR PROJECTION.
COMMISSIONER WODTKE STATED THAT HE IS AS CONCERNED AS ALL
THE REST ABOUT IMPROVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
.JONES INTERCABLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE
BEEN PRESENTED TONIGHT. HE NOTED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE
MORE TRACK RECORD, BUT HE DID FEEL THERE IS SOME INDICATION FROM
THESE FIGURES OF AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. HE THEN ASKED IF
THE CHANNELS CARRIED BY .JONES INTERCABLE AFFORDED COVERAGE OF THE
MAJOR NETWORKS,AND MR, SISK CONFIRMED THAT THEY'DO CARRY ALL THE
MAJOR NETWORKS.
COMMISSIONER BIRD INQUIRED HOW MUCH THE CUSTOMER BASE HAS
EXPANDED SINCE JONES INTERCABLE TOOK OVER THIS SYSTEM IN JUNE OF
1980, AND MR. COLLUSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE PROBABLY INCREASED BY
300-400 CUSTOMERS, UP TO 2,800, BUT THIS DROPS OFF DURING THE SUMMER
MONTHS BY ABOUT 257.
COMMISSIONER BIRD WISHED -TO KNOW HOW THEY CHOSE THE COMPA-
NIES USED IN THEIR RATE COMPARISON CHARTS, AND MR. COLLUSO STATED THAT
IT WAS BASED ON COMPARABLE SIZE, RECEPTION AREA, NUMBER OF CHANNELS,
ETC.
COMMISSIONER BIRD ALSO FELT ,JONES INTERCABLE IS TRYING TO
DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM, BUT APPARENTLY THERE ARE
RESERVATIONS HERE TONIGHT ABOUT WHETHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING MADE
AND POSSIBLY IF WE CAME BACK TO THIS IN 90 OR MORE DAYS, THEY WOULD
NOT HAVE THESE NEGATIVE RESPONSES. COMMISSIONER BIRD FELT, IN FAIR-
PJESS TO THE SUBSCRIBERS, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A PUBLICCx 46 PAGE 819 A
JUL 141991 7
F
JUL 141981
Fu iK 6 PA E S 0 -
TIME WHEN THE LARGEST MAJORITY_CAN BE HERE, AND STATED THAT HE WOULD
NOT BE RESPONSIVE TO VOTING FOR THE RATE INCREASE TONIGHT. HE,
HOWEVER, DID FEEL THE FIGURES AND PERCENTAGES ASKED FOR ARE IN
KEEPING WITH THE INDEX AND INFLATION WHICH AFFECTS US ALL, AND THAT
JONES INTERCABLE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO SUCH AN INCREASE AFTER
DEMONSTRATING THE SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY BEING IMPROVED IN THIS AREA.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER WISHED TO KNOW THEIR CURRENT POLICY
FOR HANDLING REQUESTS TO ADD NEW CUSTOMERS AT A DISTANCE FROM EXISTING
SERVICE CABLES.
KEN VICKERS, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, STATED THAT THEIR AVERAGE
POLICY IS MORE LENIENT THAN MOST; THEY WOULD NORMALLY GO 25 HOMES A
MILE, OR ONE HOUSE EVERY 211 FEET. THEY HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE
PEOPLE 400 AND 500 FEET AWAY FROM THE END OF THE LINE HAVE ASKED FOR
CABLE, AND UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY HAVE TO SAY NO. IF A
PERSON, HOWEVER, IS ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO ABSORB THE COST, THEY WILL
PUT IN THE CABLE.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER INQUIRED ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF SUB-
SCRIBERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY AND IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, AND MR.
SISK REPORTED THAT ABOUT 52-1/2% ARE IN THE COUNTY AREA; ABOUT 35%
IN THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN; AND 13 OR 14% IN THE BREVARD COUNTY PALM
BAY AREA. COMMISSIONER FLETCHER CONTINUED TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL
FIGURES AND THEIR PLANS FOR EXTENDING SERVICE TO NEW AREAS, WISHING
TO KNOW HOW MUCH IS BEING PUMPED INTO EXPANSION AND HOW MUCH INTO
MAINTENANCE.
MR, SISK REPORTED THAT ABOUT $80,000 A YEAR IS ALLOWED FOR
PLANT EXPANSION AND $60,000 FOR PLANT UPGRADE.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER NEXT INQUIRED ABOUT THE STATEMENT
ON THE OPENING PAGE OF THE .JONES INTERCABLE PRESENTATION WHICH SETS
OUT THAT "APPROVAL NOTWITHSTANDING, THE PROPOSED RATE SCHEDULE WILL
BECOME EFFECTIVE .JUNE 1, 1981....."
ATTORNEY COLLINS DID NOT BELIEVE THE COMPANY HAS THE AUTHOR-
ITY TO INCREASE RATES WITHOUT COMMISSION APPROVAL. HE ASKED IF ANYONE
PRESENT HAD RECEIVED AN INCREASE IN RATES TO $5.50 PER MONTH ON THEIR
LAST BILL, AND NO ONE HAD. HE, THEREFORE, BELIEVED THE COMPANY WAS
BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICY OF RECEIVING COMMISSION APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONER BIRD NOTED THAT .ZONES INTERCABLE HAD A HEARING
BEFORE THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN AND WERE GRANTED A RATE INCREASE TO BE
EFFECTIVE .JULY IST. HE ASKED IF THERE IS ANY TECHNICAL REASON WHY
THE RECEPTION FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA SHOULD DIFFER
FROM THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, AND PSR. SISK STATED IT SHOULD BE THE
SAME.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY FIGURED
THEIR PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE OF 18% AS COMPARED TO THE CPI TABLE,
AND MR. SISK EXPLAINED THAT THEY TOOK THE CPI FIGURE LESS RENT,
COMMISSIONER WODTKE THEN INQUIRED ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE
PROPOSED REBUILD OF CABLE THROUGH THE GIFFORD AREA,
KEN VICKERS, ENGINEER, REPLIED THAT THEY HAVE AS OF NOW
COMPLETED THREE TRUNK SPANS ON THE SOUTH SPAN AND HAVE ANOTHER THREE
MILES OF CABLE THAT SHOULD BE IN SHORTLY; THEIR REBUILDING IN THE
WABASSO-GIFFORD AREA SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN A TWO TO THREE MONT
PERIOD. MR, VICKERS COMMENTED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACING IO YEv-,'
OLD EQUIPMENT THEY INHERITED FROM INDIAN RIVER CABLEVISION.
CHAIRMAN LYONS ASKED IF WE WERE TO RECONSIDER THIS MATTER
IN,90-120 DAYS, WHETHER WE CAN CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING OR SHOULD
SET A NEW ONE.
ATTORNEY COLLINS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER A DATE
A0 THEN READVERTISE AT THAT TIME SO THE NOTICE CAN GO OUT TO THE
CUSTOMERS.
MRS. ORMSBY OF SHADY REST ASKED PERMISSION TO SPEAK AND
STATED THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THERE IS A CABLE PROBLEM, BUT YOU CAN FIX
IT JUST SO MANY TIMES BEFORE IT HAS TO BE REMOVED, AND UNTIL THAT
CABLE IS FIXED, NOTHING WILL BE IMPROVED. SHE EMPHASIZED THAT THEY
HAVE TERRIBLE RECEPTION CONTINUALLY AND HAVE CALLED AND HAD TO WAIT
TWO WEEKS AT A TIME FOR A RESPONSE. MRS. ORMSBY STATED THAT THEY
WOULD NOT MIND PAYING IF THEY COULD GET SOMETHING WORTHWHILE.
MR. SISK COMMENTED THAT OUT OF ALL THEIR SUBSCRIBERS, ONLY
A SMALL PERCENT SHOWED UP TONIGHT. OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT A POPULAR
THING TO INCREASE RATES, BUT THEY ARE IN GREAT NEED OF THE EXTRA
REVENUE TO IMPROVE SERVICE AND MAKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND HE DID
NOT FEEL THERE ARE THAT MANY AREAS THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING.
CHAIRMAN LYONS DID NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE TONIGHT COMPLAINED
ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE, BUT RATHER THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
GET THEIR MONEY S WORTH. HE STATED THAT THE COMMISSION UNDERSTANDS
THE CABLE COMPANY IS CAPITAL PROBLEM AND CAN SYMPATHIZE, AND HE
BOOK 46 PAGE
JUL 141981
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JUL 1.41981
BOOK 6 P,i^r
BELIEVED THE RATE INCREASE WILL NOT MEET WITH OPPOSITION WHEN THE
PEOPLE CAN GET WHAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR,
ON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
WODTKE, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WODTKE, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK, THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REQUEST FOR
A RATE INCREASE BY .JONES INTERCABLE BE CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 15TH
AT THIS SAME LOCATION.
COMMISSIONER WODTKE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT, SINCE THE
FIGURES PRESENTED AT THIS TIME ARE NOT AUDITED, POSSIBLY IN
OCTOBER WHEN THEY DO HAVE FIGURES AS OF JUNE, 19811 WE CAN HAVE
SOMETHING MORE OFFICIAL FROM THEIR AUDITORS.
COMMISSIONER WODTKE CONTINUED THAT IT APPEARS THE PEOPLE
IPJ THE SHADY REST AREA HAVE A CABLE PROBLEM, AND HE WOULD ASK THAT
WHILE THE .JONES INTERCABLE OFFICIALS ARE IN THE AREA, THEY CONTACT
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PRESENTED THEIR PROBLEMS AND TRY TO CLEAR THEM
UP.
DISCUSSION ENSUED ABOUT REQUIRING A CERTIFIED AUDIT, BUT
IT WAS AGREED THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING AND THAT A
CPA's REPORT WITH THE STANDARD DISCLAIMER, PREFERABLY A LOCAL CPA,
WOULD BE SATISFACTORY.
DISCUSSION AROSE AS TO WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE
SEBASTIAN COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE MEETING ON OCTOBER 15, AND IT WAS
DETERMINED THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE CHECKED OUT.
COMMISSIONER WODTKE RESTATED HIS MOTION, AND COMMISSIONER
SCURLOCK RENEWED HIS SECOND, THAT THE HEARING ON THE REQUEST FOR A
RATE INCREASE BY .JONES INTERCABLE BE CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 15, 1981,
TO BE HELD AT THE SEBASTIAN COMMUNITY CENTER, IF AVAILABLE, WITH
REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLISHED NOTICE AND CUSTOMER NOTICES.
THE CHAIRMAN CALLED FOR THE QUESTION. IT WAS VOTED ON AND
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, ON MOTION MADE, SECONDED
AND CARRIED, THE BOARD ADJOURNED AT 9:05 O'CLOCK P.M.
ATTEST:
�.
CLERK
10�
CHAIRMAN