Dangling cables spark live wire scare

    As PC Telcom continues to wrap up its cable TV operation, the City has been “flooded” with calls from residents concerned about leftover cables dangling from power lines, Superintendent Mark Brown reported at the Aug. 7 meeting of Holyoke City Council.
    The pieces of inert cable are being mistaken for live wires and are causing alarm among locals who believe they are in danger of being electrocuted.
    Brown said that it is unclear who is actually responsible for picking up the cables. Mayor Orville Tonsing insists that the burden of collection falls on PC Telcom and that he had spoken with the company regarding the issue earlier that day.
    “They’re supposed to have one crew that’s doing the cutting and the other that’s picking them up,” he said. “But that hasn’t been happening.”
    PC Telcom agreed to remove their cable TV equipment from utility poles in town after they stopped offering their basic cable TV package July 31.
    The Council also approved the purchase of a small lot next to the PC Telcom property whose purchase was agreed upon at the July 26 special meeting. Together, the properties will form a contiguous half-block in the 300 block of West Denver Street.
    
City enrolls in power transfer program
    The Council also agreed during the Aug. 7 meeting to enroll the City in the Western Area Power Administration’s Network Integration Transmission Service, which will simplify electricity transportation fees for energy provider NMPP.
    Because NMPP generates some of its electricity outside of WAPA areas, the rate that the company pays to transport power to Holyoke varies, based on the areas from which power is routed.
    Brown said the agreement, which will last until October 2023, may not immediately save the City money but will simplify the process of charging Holyoke for its electricity usage.
    
Officials report
    Brown informed the Council that his department responded to a power outage in the alley between the 100 block of North Interocean and Baxter avenues Aug. 4, which was caused by two bad transformers.
    Electrical crews are replacing two bad poles along Reynolds Avenue and have established service at the Martin duplex development.
    Brown also reported that water and sewer crews have been working on a sewer tap on East Gordon Street, the alfalfa sprinkler system and a water tap at the Martin duplex development. A water poll of Holyoke homes showed that levels of copper and lead are acceptably low.
    A report provided by Holyoke Police Department said the department, including code enforcement, handled or generated 373 calls for service from July 12-Aug. 1. They made one arrest, wrote 19 citations and five reports, and gave out 48 warnings. Code enforcement handled nine animal complaints, eight dogs at large and 11 ordinance violations.
    
Other business
    In other business at the Aug. 7 meeting, the council:
    — Heard from high school students Lauren Bergner and Savannah Burris of FCCLA, who indicated their organization’s willingness to help with community service projects.
    — Approved a $1,269 purchase request for ticket/summons books for the police department.
    — Reappointed Scott Murray to the Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee.