HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 10-07 Maplewood cable television surveys to be tabulated soon THE REVIEW THE REVIEW Wed.,Oct.7, 1981 Page 3A
Maplewood cable television
surveys to be tabulated soon
in acquiring cable television,though they however, Maplewood contributes a
By JONATHAN CLYDE GLASS haVe reservations about the cost and greater portion to the commission's
Staff Writerplacement of the cables themselves, bndget.The city's initial contribution was
Juker says. $1,000,to$500 for cities with populations
Maplewood residents have returned The surveys will be completely less than 10,000.Maplewood also will be
1,219 of the 6,500 surveys distributed in the tabulated sometime this fall,but the city assessed a larger share,proportionate to
last several months to assess popular is still deliberating whether to rent the its voting power, of the commission's
interest in cable television,according to computer time necessary to do the job future budgets.
Fran Juker,city council member. quickly,or to seek volunteers to count all In 1981,the city spent$2,000 on the cable
The surveys have not been tabulated, the responses by hand,Juker notes. commission,and it ha allocated$3,000 for
but it appears most people are interested Juker is one of four 1982, accordingto Finance. Director
people representing
Maplewood in the Ramsey Washington Daniel Faust.The city should be reim-
Counties Suburban Cable Commission bursed for these expenditures by
that has been created to prepare, ad- whichever company eventually is
minister and establish rates for a cable awarded the franchise he added.
communications franchise to be shared The commission is still engaged in the
by communities throughout the two preliminary work of determining how
counties. many people are interested in cable and
City Councilman Norm Anderson,1603 what sorts of services and programming
Frost Ave.,and attorney James Rohricht, they want.The selection of a company to
2125 Duluth Place,are the city's delega tes supply cable services will be made in a
on the commission.Juker,1965 Barclay three-step process when the commission
St.,and Ann Fitch,162 Bellwood Ave.,are requests proposals from competing
alternates.Rohricht is chairman of the companies,designates the company,and
by-laws sub-committee,while Anderson adopts a franchise ordinance to govern
serves on the needs assessment sub- the relationship between the commission
committee. and the company.All those decisions will
The cable commission includes require a two-thirds vote of the com-
representatives from North St. Paul, mission.
Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Vadnais Heights, The commission meets the second
White Bear Lake,White Bear Township, Thursday of every month. The next
Willernie,Birchwood,Dellwood and Gem meeting will beat 7:30 p.m.Oct.8 in the
Lake. city hall the White Bear Lake City Hall,
The voting power of the delegates is 250 Miller Ave.The meetings are open to
determined by the population of the city the public.
they represent. Maplewood, with a Maplewood residents interested in
population over 25,000,is in the highest more information about cable can call
category,with six votes per delegate. Fran Juker,777-9386,or Norm Anderson,
Along with its greater voting power, 777-5893.