SCOTT CITY PONDERS TV CABLE AGREEMENT

SCOTT CITY -- The renewal of Scott City's 15-year cable television franchise agreement was discussed and then postponed at Monday's Scott City Council meeting.

The agreement with Falcon Telecable expires Nov. 22, city officials said. Falcon wants the city to renew it for another 15 years.

Members of the City Council decided to postpone a vote on the agreement until at least Nov. 4, and said they favored a five- or 10-year contract instead of a 15-year one.

Councilman Jerry Cummins suggested extending the current contract for one year instead of agreeing to a new contract. Councilman Ron Oller said he would like to see upgrades in Falcon's service before a new contract is signed with the city.

Council members decided to postpone a vote on the contract until November.

The council also voted to give a portion of city property to a former mayor provided he pays the legal fees incurred in the transfer.

The property, a 55-by-180-foot tract situated on and near Monroe Street, was vacated by the city years ago. City officials said records were unclear when it when it was vacated. The transfer also involves a portion of city park property.

Alvie Modglin, who, in addition to being a former mayor served on the city council up until last year, is the owner of a building that is situated on the property.

Modglin offered to purchase the property, but members of the city council unanimously voted to deed the property to him if he paid any legal fees involved. Modglin said he plans to sell the property.

Only five council members were present at Monday's meeting. Mayor Shirley Young and council members Brenda Moyers, Jim Cauble and John Smith were absent. Young and Moyers were representing the city at a Community Betterment conference in Jefferson City.

Councilman Jay Cassout was skeptical of the property transfer. "My only concern is that we'd be setting a precedent," Cassout said.

Councilman Ron Oller said if the transfer was deemed acceptable by City Attorney Francis Siebert, he was in favor of it. "If Frank sees no problem with it, I have no problem with it," Oller said.

Oller and other council members said transfers of city property to individuals and businesses were common procedure. "It's been done through the years," said Councilman John Rogers.

Siebert said the city had done similar transactions before.

The building situated on the property was built in 1982 by Modglin, as part of Modglin Inc. Modglin said he obtained a building permit that year from the city that allowed its construction.

Part of the property was donated to the city in the 1920s or 1930s, according to City Clerk Nona Walls, who said city records on the transaction were unclear.

In other business, city officials said a plan to renumber houses in the town remains on hold. Members of a committee appointed to devise a second renumbering plan said they are still trying to work out difference in their plan and the original renumbering plan.

Oller, who heads the committee, said differences of opinion between city officials and committee members is the main reason for a monthslong delay in the renumbering.

"We've got our differences pretty much worked out," he said. "We're doing the best we can do."