Published: November 09, 2009 11:31 pm      

City officials expected to OK WiFi fee structure

CUMBERLAND — Users of the city’s WiFi services can start expecting a fee if the mayor and council members approve an order adopting a fee structure at tonight’s public meeting.

City Administrator Jeff Repp said the order is a professional services agreement that will authorize CONXX Inc. to manage the system and connect private users to it.

“CONXX will collect the funds, credit card payments and then monthly reimburse them to the city,” Repp said. “The city will pay CONXX for that service as well as operation and maintenance of the infrastructure around the city.”

He said the order would set the rates CONXX will be authorized to charge for connection to the system.

Daily use would cost $4.95; weekly, $9.95; monthly, $12,95; quarterly, $34.95; and annually, $129.95. For all AllCoNet partner Internet service providers, a monthly rate will cost $5 and there will be a 10 percent discount for quarterly payments and 15 percent for annual.

Repp said customers can expect to begin paying for use immediately if the order is passed.

Officials will also hold a public hearing at the meeting to receive comments on the proposed ordinance to repeal and re-enact Chapter 23 of the city code titled subdivisions.

City Planner David Umling said this is part of ongoing work to implement the 2004 comprehensive plan.

“Basically, we are making revisions to streamline the review process for minor subdivisions and create a special review process for minor lot line adjustments,” he said.

Umling said staff has identified a lot of outdated requirements because engineering standards, minimum state requirements and mapping/ surveying technologies have changed significantly.

“We also found a lot of errors and omissions within the regulations that we are also working to correct,” Umling said. “We are undertaking it as a repeal and replacement of the current standards because the changes are so extensive that it is a simpler way of processing it to make sure everything we are proposing to change gets into the city code.”

At the meeting, Repp will also give an update to the mayor and council regarding the ongoing financial issues and the status of the transfer of Memorial Hospital and negotiations with a potential developer for the reuse of the facility.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.