MENTONE – KC Online asked the Mentone Town Council Monday night to renew its agreement for Internet service access on the town’s water tower, but the town council wanted more money.
Eric Wiggs, with KC Online, provided copies of the contracts to the council. He said it was pretty much the same as before. For the access, KC Online would provide the town with $1,200 a year and free Internet connection.
Town attorney Larry Beeson asked Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross if they had any problems in the past with it. Ross responded that KC Online didn’t pay regularly.
Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd told the council he asked KC Online to pay the annual amount in one lump sum instead of payments. Wiggs said that was best for everyone involved.
“How interested are you in raising the $1,200?” Tim Croy, council president, asked.
Wiggs and Zak Wolfinger both replied they were not interested.
Croy said he talked to others who said the $1,200 annual payment was outdated.
“The cheapest one I found in the county was $400 a month,” Croy said.
Wiggs said KC Online is still a smaller company and it’s trying to grow.
“With the customer base we have off that tower, we wouldn’t be able to make it at $400 a month,” Wolfinger said.
Councilwoman Jill Gross asked how long KC Online has been in service. Wiggs said about 13 years, but Wolfinger said the company KC Online is under has only owned KC Online for about two years.
Wolfinger also said KC Online will be making significant upgrades to equipment out there, totaling about $3,000.
Shepherd also said he needs a better way of contacting KC Online. During a recent attempt, he tried twice and both attempts took nearly an hour. Wolfinger said for the town, they will have a better system for them to get a hold of someone at KC Online.
Gross suggested instead of approving the contract at $100 per month for five years, approve it for less time and evaluate the contract then.
Wiggs said the company’s standard contract is for five years, but he didn’t see why they couldn’t do it for three years and reassess the contract at that time.
Gross made a motion to approve the agreement with KC Online for $100 a month for three years instead of five and reassess the contract then. The motion was approved.
Shepherd asked about the billing, and Croy said once a year was good. Wolfinger said KC Online will pay the full year in April, and the contract will run from April to March.
