Considered a public utility, city has few options, according to officials
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
City Administrator Sam Tapson informed council members last week the city had received a permit request from Wisconsin Technology Networking and that the company would be installing large, telecommunications poles in two locations within the city’s rights of way.
While it is a permit request, Tapson explained that under Wisconsin Public Service Commission regulations, the group is considered a public utility, an as such, has an access to city right of ways for installation of its equipment.
“We can’t really control that,” Tapson told council members at the Nov. 21 meeting.
City officials met with the group, according to Tapson, held discussions and are prepared to enter into a permit agreement. The agreement would include placement of equipment – two poles with heights between 60 and 120 feet – and would be contingent on, and subject to, items such as insurance coverage and removal of the equipment if it becomes obsolete.
Tapson said as far as permitting is concerned, it’s almost automatic because the city has 60 days to approve the permit, but even if it’s not approved, the group will move forward with installing the equipment.
“By entering into the conversation, I think we’ll have more of a cooperative position and some coverage that will be beneficial,” he said. “But there’s no way to force upon them any standards. They are a public utility, just like the gas company, the electric company or anybody else.”
The two poles will be in city right of ways – on public property – on the terrace between the sidewalk and street. The shorter of the two poles, between 60 and 80 feet, will be downtown on Lincoln Street between Subway and the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce office; the second, at approximately 120-feet-tall, will be located over near Getzen and Hartwell streets.
Tapson said discussions revealed the tall, steel poles will likely be black in color, mimicking what the city has in place for decorative lighting in the downtown area.
“If you get questions from residents or businesses …they’re not the city’s, they are a different utility and I would suggest you direct questions to either Neal (Kolb) or John (Murphy),” he said.
East Market Street
City Administrator Sam Tapson said city staff recently met with Elkhorn Area School District Superintendent Jason Tadlock and EASD Business Manager Bill Trewyn to discuss the extension of East Market Street, following the passage of the district’s referendum.
Tapson said what came out of the meeting with district officials is that in all likelihood, the city will only be faced with the prospect of borrowing funds for its portion of the road construction project, approximately 60 percent.
The district will likely have cash-in-hand through the recently passed referendum to cover their portion of the project, he explained.
“Originally, we talked like we may have to front the entire thing and they pay it back over time,” Tapson said. “That doesn’t appear to be the case now.”
He said city and school district staff plan to meet again this month to hammer out some more details regarding the project and address any questions that arise.
