By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
The Union Schools District recently awarded a contract for construction of a fiber optic network connecting its facilities throughout Dowagiac.
Given that the city is discussing a similar network, City Manager William H. Nelson Jr. suggested to the school administration that it might make sense to do a joint-ownership project advantageous to both.
To run an additional set of fiber strands to accommodate Dowagiac would only increase project costs incrementally.
The consultant drafted a plan to utilize mostly city poles for the network along with updated cost projections if the city participates.
At this point, Nelson reported, it appears that the projects constructed separately would each cost $250,000 to $300,000.
By combining construction the cost is projected at $310,000, with the city paying about 55 percent of the cost and the school district 45 percent.
Council concluded its Feb. 14 meeting in closed session with Nelson and City Attorney Mark Westrate to discuss negotiations related to the sale or lease of real property.