Council tables VSCI resolution until March
by Angie Asam– Staff Writer
Following a two-hour city council workshop meeting used to discuss a variety of topics, one being the Vibrant Small Cities Initiative (VSCI) Grant funding, the city council decided to table passing a resolution authorizing city manager Mark Slown to move forward with the grant. In the workshop prior to the meeting Jodi Brege, who was hired by the city to help do research on the municipal wireless network that has been a part of the VSCI projects since the beginning, gave a presentation on what exactly a Wi-Fi system is, how it works and what it requires.
The plan would be to provide free Internet service throughout the city, and for those wanting more capabilities, a service at a small fee. As Brege moved on in her presentation, the council asked many questions as they admit they do not know much about the technology involved. Council woman Deb Greene stepped up and made the rest of council and Brege aware of her concerns on the project. As talked about at the last workshop meeting, there is talk about many of the big companies, Charter, Verizon, and others moving toward Rogers City. ?I say go for it, I still say that they will do a better job at keeping up the technology; this is not our fortay. I think you (Brege) have done a great job and shou
Greene sees the city doing it on their own as a major problem with hidden costs, upkeep, and finding people who are capable of fixing problems with the network. She would rather see things move forward with the cooperative of all of northern Michigan, at least then Rogers City is not the sole responsible party. Because all of this discussion came out in workshop, when the regular meeting started and an authorizing resolution was on the agenda to be passed to move the VSCI grant forward, the council decided to let everything sink in and table their decision.