Bob Foos
Oronogo residents can look forward to having a choice of cable providers and a faster internet connection.
Sam McGill, director of regional operations for Sparklight, announced Monday during the Oronogo Board of Aldermen meeting that his company’s contractor, Capital Technologies, is expected soon to begin laying fiber-optic cable. He estimated installation will be complete in 12 to 18 months.
He added that customers can expect fiber cable, not coaxial cable, to be installed to their residence. Internet speeds offered will be up to a gig (1,000 megabytes per second). TV and phone service will also be available.
“That’s exciting news to hear,” said Mayor Charles Wilkins.
McGill explained statewide franchises now allow Oronogo to have more than one cable service company in town. With corporate approval just two weeks ago, he said Sparklight is also expanding from Joplin to Airport Drive and Duquesne.
Webb City and Carterville have been served by Sparklight (formerly Cable One) for decades.
Mediacom is the existing provider in Oronogo.
Mike Atkinson, representing Joplin Trails Coalition, told the board that his association is ready for the challenge of joining the Frisco Greenway Trail from Webb City through Oronogo to the Ruby Jack Trail.
“You guys are right there at the crossroads,” he said.
According to the online presentation, ground will be broken this spring on the first of six phases of construction. The last phase will follow streets in Oronogo. From Center Creek, the trail will go east on Ivy Road, north on Dewey and John streets and then through city-owned property to the Ruby Jack Trail where it intersects with Grant Street.
Atkinson noted there is little traffic on Dewey and John streets. If permissable, he said the trail will paint bicycle icons on those streets.
The first phase of the 3.78-mile project will involve creating a trail from Stadium Drive (north of Webb City Middle School) to County Road 230. The second and third phases will follow the existing Cardinal Habitat Trail and then cross the habitat back to CR 230 and Center Creek.
Board members unanimously finalized their decision to only meet once a month by approving an ordinance amending city code.
From now on, regular board meetings will only be held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. The board has also been meeting on the fourth Monday of the month.
Wilkins recommended the change because there hasn’t been that much for the board to do since major projects have been completed and things seem to be going smoothly.
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