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DeAun Michael
Reporter
OSAGE CITY—Cell phone customers in the Osage City area can
soon count on improved service with the addition of not one, but
two cell phone towers in the city. Osage City Manager Nick Hernandez
announced the plans at the Oct. 14 Osage City Council meeting.
In addition to service from the Crossroads Wireless Tower that will
be located on the city’s water tower and will support Sprint
customers, Paul Wrablica has purchased the former Jim Hunt Welding
Shop property to assemble a cell phone tower. He expects to have
a 199-foot tower ready for service by the first quarter of next
year. AT&T has already spoken for service on the tower and he
is also talking with Verizon and T-Mobile for space on the tower.
“The tower will be a freestanding tower,” Hernandez
assured the council. “This means there will be no guy wires.
It will be rated to approximately 92 mile per hour winds. It will
have a fence and landscaping. He will be responsible for upkeep
just like any other property owner.”
In other discussion, Hernandez requested the council to review a
comprehensive fee schedule packet that was presented and will be
discussed at a council meeting in the near future. All current city
clerk, municipal court, parks and recreation and utility fees have
been reviewed and documented for the council. Recommended changes
to some of the fees were also included for the council’s approval
at a future meeting.
It was noted by Hernandez the city will be looking at changes in
the electric, gas and water rates in the near future. City staff
has also been studying the possibility of an increase in the franchise
fees for the cable and telephone companies. The possible rate changes
will be presented to the council for consideration at a later date.
Additionally, the council advised city employees to proceed with
the review of abandoned and unregistered vehicles in the city limits.
City employee Gary Thompson noted progress has been made with several
property owners in regard to cleaning up or demolishing several
properties in town.
In other business, the council:
• approved an ordinance to establish an identity theft prevention
program that provides policies and procedures to protect personal
information of the city’s utility customers.
• agreed to the purchase of four sets of doors for the Santa
Fe Depot from Anderson Logistics at a cost not to exceed $9,000
• approved Resolution 837 to establish Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 as
controlled burn month within the city limits. This will allow, with
favorable conditions, burning of grass, weeds, leaves, waterways,
yards, gardens and fence lines.
• voted in favor of supporting the Osage County Herald-Chronicle
Christmas on Us event by approving arrangements with the state to
close Market Street between Fifth and Seventh streets from 9 to
11:30 a.m. on Dec. 20.
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