Auburn OKs Knology agreement

Auburn residents will have another choice for a cable provider, but no one knows when it will happen.

The Auburn City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday night to enter into a non-exclusive cable franchise agreement with Knology, a cable-Internet-phone provider based in West Point, Ga. Currently, the city has a similar agreement with Charter Communications.

Chad S. Wachter, general counsel for Knology, took questions from the council before the vote, but he was unable to say when Knology will be available for city residents.

“We’ll provide those answers with the city when we get them,” he said.

Ward 7 council member Gene Dulaney encouraged Wachter to build as fast as possible.

Skip James, Charter’s director of government relations, addressed the council during citizens’ communications to express the company’s support for competition.

“We competed with Knology in the past and we will continue to in the future,” he said.

Presently, Knology is offered in the Alabama cities of Dothan, Huntsville, Montgomery, Lanett and Valley. Knology is not offered in Opelika, but Wachter said they are working on an agreement with Opelika officials. Charter also currently provides services in Opelika.

No other residents or citizens addressed the cable issue during citizens’ communications or the required public hearing.

“I am glad to see competition is coming in,” said Ward 1 council member Arthur L. Dowdell. “I wish there was more coming in.”

City manager Charlie Duggan said the city will be renegotiating its franchise contract with Charter this fiscal year.

In other matters, the council agreed to:

- De-annex 41.04 acres of land owned by Mathan and Jill Holt on Alabama Highway 14 from the city limits. Dulaney and Ward 2 council member Sheila Eckman voted against the issue.

- Authorize a preliminary assessment for the West Pace Improvement District. The action will allow the district to begin the process of placing assessments on the 165.5 acres of property in the district, located between Shell Toomer Parkway and South College Street.

- Award alcoholic beverage licenses to Naruto Fusion Cuisine, 1445 S. College St., and Ducks Unlimited, 1455 Shug Jordan Parkway.

- Put three stop signs and one 25 mph sign in the Donahue Ridge subdivision, and established a no parking zone at 604 W. Glenn Ave.

The following employees were recognized during the meeting:

- Tamara Yancy, finance department, employee of the month

- Darrell K. Aldridge, solid waste division of environmental services department, five years of service

- Steve Hicks, finance department, 10 years of service

- Andrea Jackson, finance department, 15 years of service

- Susan White, judicial department, 20 years of service

- Phillip Dunlap, economic development department, 25 years of service

- Deborah White, administrative division of environmental services division, 30 years of service