Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Officials hope to sign next meeting
DAVENPORT — The city and Lincoln County are close to an agreement on a telecommunications franchise for broadband internet, city administrator Steve Goemmel reported at council’s regular meeting Wednesday, Oct. 25.
Negotiations have been ongoing since July, but after discussions between city attorney David Bingaman and county attorney Adam Walser, the city has just a couple details left in the contract to clarify before being ready to sign an agreement, Goemmel said.
“I think we’re in the final stage,” Goemmel said. “It’s pretty much agreeable.”
A motion went before council to approve the franchise, but it was continued to the Nov. 8 meeting in hopes that a final signature would occur then.
“July 25 was the first time we received a rough draft from the county,” Goemmel said. “It takes time to work through these things.”
Davenport is the final county municipality to sign a franchise agreement with the county for grant-funded broadband. County authorities had previously lamented what they considered lengthy negotiations with Wilbur and Davenport after the other six municipalities reached agreements first, while the city said they were the final municipality to receive a draft agreement to comb over.
In other council business, council approved resolutions changing the city fee schedule to reflect 2024 utility rates, the first reading of an ordinance establishing the regular tax levy for 2024, a resolution allowing the city to surplus unused supplies and equipment and a resolution allowing the city to purchase two vehicles.
Prior to the meeting, the city held a budget workshop as the 2024 budget begins to shape. Finance committee director Cory Hollis said during council’s meeting there were few changes from the previous meeting Oct. 11.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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