The Collinsville City Council is considering bringing Frontier fiberoptic internet to its citizens.
Frontier is an American telecommunications company that offers fiber internet, TV and phone services for residential and business customers. David Russell, Frontier’s Vice President of External Affairs, delivered a presentation at last week’s council meeting.
Russell explained that Frontier delivers a high-speed, fiberoptic network through ultra-pure glass fibers “as thin as a human hair.” The fiber connects to the router (which Frontier provides), which then connects to the internet via ethernet or Wi-Fi.
While Frontier’s internet doesn’t replace the copper network, it is easier to maintain and, because it is buried in the ground, isn’t susceptible to weather and other such interferences.
Each home would have its own dedicated fiber connection so nobody would have to share with their neighbor. This means that each user would get the maximum upload/download speeds (anywhere from seven to ten megabits per second).
“With so many of today’s home appliances being smart devices, everything in our homes takes up bandwidth,” Russell said. “We believe the fiberoptic technology is what people need, both today and in years to come.”
Frontier fiber would be installed around the city wherever copper network is currently laid. Russell asked to be connected with any incoming developers to help plan for future fiberoptic network needs.
Regarding construction concerns, Russell explained that Frontier would take photos of the streets before digging and would be sure that everything looked as it should at the project’s completion. Anyone with concerns can visit www.frontier.com/fiberconstruction.
If the City chooses to move forward, construction could begin in the next 90 days with a projected completion of July.
In other business, Clint Bissett of Westwood gave a presentation regarding the ongoing water well project. There is currently a two-acre site on the east side of town on which a new water well and 300,000-gallon ground storage tank are scheduled to be installed.
Bissett wanted to alert the council tht the project needs to be a specific distance off the easement so it’s not too close to a transmission line on the north side of the property. Additionally, there must be a 150-foot sanitary easement around the well to ensure potentially hazardous items like livestock, septic tanks and sewer lines don’t risk contaminating the water. As a result of these two requirements, the project site has been shifted slightly south of its originally planned site.
Next, Bissett had some questions for the council’s consideration. First, there are currently two driveway entrances to access the property. Bissett would prefer there to just be one off Hog Creek Road (he assured council they could create a loop so trucks could turn around inside the property).
Second, there are planned parking spaces on the property, and Bissett asked whether council felt concrete (which is more expensive) would be necessary, or if gravel would be sufficient.
Next, there is currently a 15-foot wide road within the property; Bissett wanted to know if this needed to be expanded to 24 feet for a fire lane (even though the property is “in the middle of nowhere”).
Lastly, Bissett asked whether the currently-planned fence around the property could exist only around the transmission line, as this would save on cost. Council will consider these points.
Bissett expects to be able to send final plans out to bid in mid-May.
Next, the council held a public hearing to consider the rezoning of the Swindle Ranch property to become the Southridge housing development.
In November, council entered into a development agreement with the landowner of this 31+ acre property, located south of Murdock on 377 frontage. The agreement outlined several items, including annexation, development standards, future zoning regulations and more. Minimum lot size would be 60 feet by 110 feet (6,600 square feet) with a 1,600 square foot minimum dwelling area.
The Collinsville Planning and Zoning (P&Z) board held a hearing, but most questions centered around engineering. As it was a zoning hearing, these topics were not addressed. The P&Z board recommended approval 2-1.
At Monday’s hearing, two residents addressed the council with questions. One citizen asked whether the development would have a fence around it and shared concerns about accessing the back of his property on Murdock. Another had drainage concerns, but those were to be addressed at a future engineering hearing.
Following the zoning hearing, another hearing was held to discuss the annexation of the aforementioned property. No one addressed the council.
Next, an unrelated hearing was held regarding a replat of the property at 112 E. Hughes Street. A family purchased the lot to the east of their property and simply wanted to combine two parcels into one residential lot. The P&Z board recommended approval 3-0, and the council approved unanimously.
In other business, the board approved:
• the resignation of Carrie Lewter from the Industrial Board
• termination of the contract between the City and Raftelis Financial Consultants for a water/wastewater rate study
• adoption of the 2018 International Fire Code
• adoption of the 2018 International Building Code
• adoption of the 2020 National Electrical Code (which the state of Texas has adopted)
• to shift funds from APRA to General Funds to pay fire truck repair expenses
• Ad Valorem Tax Collection contract between Grayson County and the City of Collinsville
After an Executive Session, council unanimously approved to annex and rezone the Swindle Ranch property for the Southridge Development.
