Fiber to home, a fence at the Toddler Park and the Montgomery County Appraisal Districts proposed budget were among topics of discussion during the Shenandoah City Council regular meeting, July 26.  All council members were present. To view the entire July 26 meeting agenda, click here.

1. In a 4-1 vote, council authorized the internet committee to continue final contract negotiations on the fiber to home project.

The possibility of having faster, more reliable internet access through a fiber to home project in Shenandoah has been a topic of discussion for residents and council members since 2015.

The city’s internet committee has been working with Tachus, an internet provider already available in three Shenandoah neighborhoods, to develop a master agreement for the project.

With three recently-elected council members, the item was brought up during the July 26 meeting to gauge whether the fiber to home project was something the new council still wanted to continue pursuing.

“I am generally supportive [of this project],” Council Member Byron Bevers said. “I will say talking to various residents I have heard a lot of people tell me that they are supportive of this project. I can’t recall one resident telling me that they are not supportive of this project, including tonight’s comments.”

In a 4-1 vote, the council authorized the internet committee to continue final contract negotiations with Tachus on the fiber to home project. Council Member Ron Raymaker voted against the item.

The estimated $1.5 million project would take an estimated 16 months to complete for the entire city.

2. In a 1-4 vote, the council opposed deciding on a route for the proposed Toddler Park fence.

Shenandoah council members and residents have been discussing the construction of a fence at the Toddler Park to enhance child safety. The park opened last summer.

Four different routes were presented to council during the July 26 meeting for the council to determine which route would be best to build the fence.

Route No. 4 was recommended, however several council members showed interest in other proposed route options and wanted more information about those options.

In a 1-4 vote, council opposed determining a route for the proposed Toddler Park fence, requesting more information about alternative routes at a future meeting.

3. The council unanimously opposed the Montgomery County Appraisal District’s proposed budget for FY 2018.

The proposed budget indicates a 16 percent increase from MCAD’s 2017 budget. Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the proposed budget.

MCAD will hold a board meeting and public hearing Aug. 24, after which time the taxing entities will be notified of a 30-day period during which they have the option to reject the budget.

According to council, 80 percent of the taxing entities would have to oppose the budget to invoke change.

4. Council unanimously voted to authorize the city attorney to draft ordinances showing what the city’s organizational chart would look like with the police department reporting directly to the council.

The council did not decide to make this change, but will be discussing its possibility at a future meeting. Chief Raymond Shaw was not present during the July 26 meeting.

“I certainly do not see the advantage of doing this one nor do I see any benefit to the city gained by doing so,” Council Member Charlie Bradt. “I’ve also not had any input by Chief Shaw and I feel the city council ultimately should have Chief Shaw present and his perspective on this prior to making any decisions on this.”