CITY RELEASES CLOSED MINUTES OF GRANITE BROADBAND DISCUSSION

After meeting with our city attorney and city administrator, I have authorized the release of the following closed minutes:

SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING - July 16, 2009
Present: Brockman, Luskey, Miller, Pape, Schraeder, Schueler, Stoeberl
Absent: Peabody
Others: City Administrator Barg

Miller called the special meeting to order at 7:05 a.m.
Pape moved and Luskey seconded a motion to adjourn to closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) “Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session”
RE: Request for TIF funds (various districts): high-speed wireless Internet

Motion carried 7-0. Kramer declared the meeting to be in closed session. Request for TIF funds (various districts): high-speed wireless Internet

Frank Cumberbatch addressed the Mayor and City Council, highlighting a proposal from Granite Broadband, LLC to install wireless Interest throughout the City, and addressed questions and concerns from Council members. He advised that Granite is looking for a total of $750,000 in funds from the City, 50% as a grant, and 50% as a loan to be repaid.

After Cumberbatch was dismissed, Council members discussed the proposal, and gave consensus approval to offer City assistance through TID #4 and TID #6. However, they asked Barg to advise Cumberbatch that any funds would be provided as a loan only (no grant monies), that the loan would be tied to those jobs created and maintained, and that the City would seek a first position on tangible assets as part of the collateral requested.

With no further business before the Council, Brockman moved and Luskey seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. Miller adjourned the meeting at 7:58 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve Barg, City Administrator

SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING - August 3, 2009
Present: Brockman, Kramer, Luskey, Miller, Pape, Peabody, Schraeder, Schueler, Stoeberl
Absent: None
Others: City Administrator Barg (arrived at 7:35 p.m.)

Kramer called the special meeting to order at 7:15 a.m.

Brockman moved and Luskey seconded a motion to adjourn to closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) “Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session”
RE: Request for TIF funds (various districts): high-speed wireless Internet

Motion carried 8-0. Kramer declared the meeting to be in closed session.

Request for TIF funds (various districts): high-speed wireless Internet
Frank Cumberbatch addressed the Mayor and City Council, highlighting a proposal from Granite Broadband, LLC to install wireless Interest throughout the City, and including a request for a $750,000 loan at zero-interest, to be paid out over 3 installments between now and January 1, 2010. After he was dismissed, considerable Council discussion took place, and issues of new employment, interest rates, etc. were reviewed. Brockman moved and Pape seconded a motion to approve Granite’s proposal, subject to the following conditions:
1. Applicant must meet and maintain stated minimum job numbers throughout the loan period, and the loan will be callable by the City if this number is ever missed.
2. Granite’s primary business headquarters must stay in Ripon throughout the life of the loan.
3. The City will hold first position on all hardware and equipment related to business operations.
4. A 1% interest rate shall be assessed to cover the City’s administrative expenses.

Motion carried 8-0.

With no more business before Council, Pape moved and Brockman seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion carried 8-0. Kramer adjourned the meeting at 7:51 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve Barg, City Administrator