GIDDINGS-BASED ISP PITCHES TO BURTON CITY COUNCIL

  

The Burton City Council heard a proposal Tuesday from an Internet service provider (ISP) looking to expand into Washington County.

ZochNet, headquartered in Giddings, made a pitch to councilmembers to provide fiber-optic internet for Burton residents and businesses, in exchange for an exclusive arrangement to place a receiver and transmitter at Burton’s water tower.

ZochNet CFO Roger Turner spoke to the council about the company’s recent recognition as one of the nation’s fastest-growing privately owned businesses, and efforts to push fiber-optics, which he called “the gold standard of Internet”. Fiber-optics, according to Turner, is able to provide much higher Internet speeds compared to cable or satellite.

Last year, ZochNet announced it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Brenham-based Texas Broadband, Inc., increasing its tower network and coverage area. Texas Broadband currently has transmitters at the water tower, and many residents have Texas Broadband internet service.  Turner said the acquisition, which is expected to close within 20 to 30 days, will further expand upon ZochNet’s tower infrastructure, which he said was already the largest in the central Texas region.

Turner said the company has experimented with providing fiber-optic systems to homes and businesses in several towns. He said ZochNet has “fibered every home” in Granger in Williamson County, and has started the process in Lexington, Giddings, Somerville, and Caldwell.  In addition, the company has secured contracts in Cameron and Rockdale.

Turner said the company is looking to give Burton “a head start” in the fiber process by providing a licensed link signal at the water tower and upgrading the equipment there in order to provide fiber connectivity for Burton homes and businesses. He said, through this arrangement, Burton could claim it is the first fiber-connected town in Washington County.

Turner told the council he will prepare an agreement for councilmembers to consider at their next meeting.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council:

• Tabled action on a lawn maintenance ordinance.  Mayor David Zajicek said, after research, the council found an ordinance from 1973 is already on the books, mandating that grass should be no more than nine inches high.  The new ordinance drafted would call for no more than eight inches.  Councilmembers were in disagreement over how residents not in compliance with the ordinance would be informed, so the matter was tabled.
• Approved the opening of two money market accounts at Burton State Bank with funds to be moved from the water repair fund and savings account.  City Secretary Angela Harrington said the opening of these accounts should optimize the amount of interest earned for a portion of the City of Burton’s funds.
• Approved the 2020-21 City of Burton General and Water/Sewer Budgets.  A public hearing on the budgets will be held at the council’s next meeting.
• Adopted an ordinance pertaining to the conveyance of abandoned alley and right-of-way.  Harrington said this item is merely updating an old ordinance already in effect.
• Approved the city to begin looking to hire an evidence technician as contract labor to properly document inventory in the evidence room.
• Approved the closing of North Railroad Street between West Texas and West Washington Streets for Ranger Day March 21st.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the state to close a segment of the state highway system for the annual Cotton Gin Festival, April 17-19.
• Appointed Mayor David Zajicek as a committee member from Burton for the Washington County Appraisal District Budget Committee for 2020-21.