VP Council decides to delay cable franchise

By: MICHAEL BORDELON

News Editor

The Ville Platte City Council tabled a non-exclusive franchise agreement with SuddenLink Cable Company after hearing complaints from two residents Tuesday, May 13.

Jennifer Vidrine and Shontinez Williams voiced their concerns over the city entering into a 10-year franchise agreement with a company so many residents are not satisfied with.

Williams suggested the agreement be based on performance and for a shorter period of time, suggesting the council think about a three or five-year agreement.

Vidrine said she was totally against an agreement with SuddenLink. For one month, she said she surveyed 616 people in anticipation of the public hearing on the franchise agreement. She asked those 616 people if they were satisfied with the local cable provider, and 615 of those questioned told her they were not satisfied.

Vidrine added SuddenLink’s prices go up, but the service and support remain the same.

“It costs $21.95 for 11 channels,” she said. “Every three to four months there is another increase. Their customer service is atrocious and they need to be more accountable and responsible to the city.”

Williams suggested the council attempt to make SuddenLink invest more into the community or provide more jobs if they want a 10-year agreement.

Mayor Bill Jeanmard said the state is currently working on a statewide franchise agreement, which will trump any local agreements anyway, so it did not matter whether the agreement was passed or not.

Jeanmard and the council agreed to table the issue and officially invite Cox Communications and Centurytel to perform feasibility studies on bringing their cable service into this parish.

In other business, the council:

•Introduced an ordinance on false alarms at the request of Fire Chief Ted Demoruelle. Demoruelle said many municipalities have this ordinance. It will create a fine if a fire alarm malfunctions more than three times in a short period of time. Demoruelle said it costs money every time the fire department mobilizes and excessive false alarms can create problems. With a fine in place, Demoruelle said people with faulty alarms will be more inclined to have them repaired.

•Renewed its lease with ASI for the old city hall building. The lease was renewed for six months with no changes.

•Agreed to purchase a new computer system for the city’s Section Eight program because the current software is not compatible with the city’s new server. The cost of the new system will be $6,995.

•Reappointed Daniel Arvie to the Ville Platte Housing Authority Board.