By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — City Council will consider spending $721,572 for 5,000 set-top boxes for Fibrant.
The Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 217 S. Main St.
To provide signal compatibility with Fibrant’s Minerva IPTV software, the city needs to purchase Amino Communications set-top boxes, Jim Behmer, interim Fibrant director, said to Interim City Manager Doug Paris in a memo.
Fibrant purchased 5,000 set-top boxes from Amino in March 2010, which will last until late January or February 2012 based on current installation numbers, Behmer said.
Fibrant has been working directly with Amino, the manufacturer, to get the boxes 17.5 percent cheaper than if purchased from a supplier, Behmer said.
If the city orders the boxes by early September, Amino Communications can deliver them during the second week of January. The IPTV software compatible with Fibrant will be pre-loaded on the boxes prior to shipping.
Behmer recommends the Council adopt a “sole source” resolution and adopt the contract with Amino.
Also Tuesday, the Council will:
• Recognize employees of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities for receiving the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ Platinum 7 and Silver Peak Performance Awards for 2010.
• Hold a public hearing and consider closing an alley located in the 100 block of South Lee Street.
• Consider appropriating $100,000 for engineering services related to the Second Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Elimination Project.
• Consider awarding a contract in the amount of $76,892 to Carolina Siteworks, Inc. for construction of the Jersey City neighborhood intersection improvements.
• Consider increasing the speed limit on portions of Cedar Springs Road and Rowan Mill Road.
• Consider allowing right turns on red lights at the intersection of Fulton Street and West Innes Street.
• Consider an agreement with N.C. Department of Transportation regarding bridge inspections.
• Meet new downtown Police Officer Mark McDaniel.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.