Three representatives from EPB confirmed Monday night that fiber optic cable, phone and Internet services would be available to significant parts of the Collegedale area by the end of the year.

The representatives answered questions about their decision to offer cable and bundle services to Collegedale at the Collegedale Commission's first reading of ordinance #739, which approves the EPB franchise.

All commissioners present voted to approve ordinance #739.

"We need to be fair," said City Attorney Sam Elliot, emphasizing the city’s franchise with Comcast runs out in three years, but a deal could be made so EPB can build its fiber optic network and offer services, with comparable treatment by the city for both companies.

A few neighborhoods have already been notified by door hangers and direct mail that services are available in their area for fiber optic cable.

“We’ve committed to a three-year period,” a representative from EPB told the commission. “We are already a year into that, and we expect the 600 square miles we are covering in Collegedale to be completed before that.”

Commissioner Debbie Baker asked if rates were comparable to Comcast. "We are right about on par with Comcast,” said the EPB representative. She encouraged everyone to check out www.EPBFi.com to see if coverage would reach their neighborhood.

Commissioner Katie Lamb said she went online to the site and was “pleasantly surprised” at the rates she found there and also encouraged residents to do so.

City commissioners approved the February financial report presented by City Manager Ted Rogers. “The revenues and expenditures are coming very close to what I predicted,” he said, stating that revenues did fall as predicted and that most of the property taxes due for March were in.

He doubted that the city could make any revenue gained from interest due to the economic slowdown. He said he was aware that business tax collections had not yet been received due to the recent change in policy by Tennessee to collect all city business taxes in efforts to increase collections. However, Tennessee has not given back collections to cities yet.

Mr. Rogers said he was prepared to speak with legislators about reversing the policy if the collections did not come back in a timely manner.

In his report, Mr. Rogers spoke about a trip to Nashville with Mayor John Turner and Mrs. Lamb. They spoke with legislators Bo Watson and Jim Tracy to encourage the expansion of Apison Pike to a five-lane road to keep up with growth patterns. “I felt those meetings were very productive,” said Mr. Rogers.

According to him, Sen. Tracy (R-Shelbyville) expressed sympathy, even saying "I know, I know, you need the road." However, Tennessee’s cut of more than 21% of its budget is hindering the efforts, despite what Mr. Rogers felt was hard work by the senators to obtain money and grants for the expansion.

Another road project discussed was the addition of a third lane between Sunkist Terrace and the McKee Foods Plant #2 on College Drive East. Construction will start soon, but Mr. Rogers doubted if it would be finished in time for A.W. Spalding Middle School's opening in August, also along College Drive East.

Mr. Turner and Mrs. Lamb both spoke about their Nashville trip, in which they also visited Franklin, Tn., and met with city planners there. Mrs. Lamb said that Franklin looked a lot like Collegedale before the Saturn automobile plant arrived. Due to good planning the city looks "outstanding," she said.

The Franklin city planners have been invited to visit Collegedale and offer tips on how to successfully manage future growth. "We need to really look at this (opportunity)," said Mrs. Lamb, "in order to prevent Collegedale looking like certain other areas of Hamilton County."

Ordinances #740 and #741 were also accepted at first reading Monday night regarding annexation into the city and a zoning change to agricultural at property on McDonald Rd.

Commissioners accepted at first reading Ordinance #742, regulating landscaping. It was drafted by the Collegedale Tomorrow Advisory Board (CTAB).

City Recorder Cristy Pratt said that she posted the regulations on the city website for developers.

Also in Collegedale news, David Barto, the chairman of CTAB, announced that the owner of the Barn Nursery, Jim Webster, donated $1,500 worth of plants for the Collegedale Greenway. The commissioners expressed their appreciation.

Commissioner Larry Hanson was not present.