PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
REVIEW … Bryan Board of Public Affairs members, Dick Long (left) and Bob Salsbury (right), go over the minutes from the October 21 meeting during a session of the BPA held on Tuesday, November 4, at the Bryan Municipal Utilities Building.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Authorization was given by the Bryan Board of Public Affairs to make the final lease payment on the fiber and coax plant at its meeting on Tuesday, November 4.
Board members in attendance were Annette Schreiner, Bob Eyre, Dick Long, Bob Salsbury, and Karen Ford. Mayor Carrie Schlade, Clerk-Treasurer John Lehner, and Director of Utilities Derek Schultz were also present.
Following the roll call and Pledge of Allegiance, the board then approved the minutes of the October 21 meeting.
Discussion regarding the final lease payment on the fiber and coax plant was presented. Schultz told board members that the Bryan Communications Utility was established in 1998 to offer a hybrid optical fiber coaxial network capable of supporting a broadband communications system.
In 2001, the BPA established the first lease payment schedule that the communications department would pay the electric department for the use of the fiber optic-coax plant for exclusive communications department functions.
Since 2009, the Communications Department has been making yearly payments to the Electric Fund. A resolution was passed the same year to set the new terms of the lease schedule with the remaining balance due of $918,420.06 plus interest.
The remaining principal balance due to the electric fund is $264,982.75, with interest due of $14,544.18 for a total lease payoff due of $279,536.93, an amount that has been appropriated to the 2025 Communications and Electric budgets.
Schultz then requested approval of the final payment, and the board made a motion by a 5-0 vote to pass it.
The board retained the legal services of John Coyle, representing Duncan & Allen LLP, of Washington, D.C., for professional services in the negotiation and completion of the solar power purchase agreement, an interconnection agreement, or any other necessary documents or agreements associated with a new solar array project between the City of Bryan/Bryan Municipal Utilities and Eitri Foundry. Coyle will be paid $260 per hour for his legal services.
Schultz also recognized Rayner Clemens, who recently completed AMP basic line worker training.
The board went into executive session to consider confidential information related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets, or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance, or to negotiations with other political subdivisions respecting requests for economic development assistance. No action was taken.
The meeting then adjourned at 5:09 p.m.