By By Arthur McLean
Mediacom has 12 years left on its cable franchise agreement with Atmore, but it's end won't come soon enough for Mayor Howard Shell after the company announced a rate hike this week.
The increase only affects Broadcast Basic customers who subscribe to the cable system's offering of over-the-air broadcast channels through the cable system.
The increase in the basic charge is 61 cents, raising the base monthly rate from $8.10 per month to $8.71 per month.
The increase comes three months after Mediacom raised its rates on subscribers to the family cable package in February.
When asked when the company's franchise agreement ends, Shell replied, "Not soon enough."
Shell said he asked an attorney to review the city's contract with Mediacom, but he was told the city had almost no leverage against the cable company.
"We will revisit this issue when the lease runs out," Shell said.
The Atmore City Council approved an architects agreement with Goodwin, Mills and Cawood for the city's new senior center Monday.
Goodwin will be charged with designing the new SAIL center to replace the city's old armory that is now being used for the center.
The new SAIL Center will be located behind City Hall at the corner of Presley Street and Ridgley Street. The center will be paid for by a $250,000 grant awarded November 14, by Governor Bob Riley. The city has committed to supplying $50,000 of matching funds.
Atmore's senior program is called SAIL, which stands for Senior Action for Independent Living. It is also the largest, most active center in the region under the South Alabama Center for Aging, an area that encompasses both Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
The proposed layout will include seating for more than 110 people. The building is expected be about 5125 square feet in size. The rooms contained within are designed to be multifunctional and multi-use. According to Mayor Shell, this amount of space is probably similar to the old National Guard Armory; however, the space will be of better quality and is arranged in a much more functional way.
Construction is expected to start by the end of July and finish in early 2005.
In other action, the city:
Approved the transfer of a liquor license to a new owner of Jalisco Mexican Restaurant.
Tabled consideration to provide a permit for a CBD tent revival at 138 Ashley Street. Representatives for the revival were not present to solidify the date for the permit. The revival is scheduled to run for two weeks sometime in July. The council is expected to take up the matter at its next meeting.