Council has questions, but advances cable franchise

Before the McCook City Council unanimously approved on first reading a 10-year franchise for the new cable provider for the city, Great Plains Cable Television Inc., it had a few questions for the company.

Great Plains, based out of Blair, purchased the cable television system from Charter last fall and the council unanimously approved the contract at the regular meeting Monday night.

Councilman Jack Rogers said he received calls from a few citizens concerning the company. One regarded the billing method of Great Plains, which bills in the middle of the month and has caused problems for some people, he said.

Regional Manager Kevin Poppe replied that Charter had multiple billing dates and that Great Plains are locked into the billing system.

Councilman Rogers said he also heard from another citizen, who had poor reception on one of their channels. The customer contacted Great Plains, that told the customer to contact the channel. But when the customer called the channel, he was told to contact the cable provider.

District Manager Jason Grigg said if Rogers could give him the customer name, he would personally contact them to straighten this out.

Mayor Dennis Berry brought up another concern about locating the phone number customers could call for questions.

The number is 888-343-8014, said Poppe, and can be found on the company website and mailings

Poppe and Grigg told the council that Great Plains plans to have an active and supportive presence in the community.

Since acquiring the network from Charter, Great Plains has obtained new equipment that will give their customers high definition television in the near future, they said, and will open offices in Indianola and McCook.

Additionally, the company plans to buy supplies here as much as possible, Poppe said, noting a new vehicle purchase. A regional meeting utilizing local facilities is scheduled here later in the year.

"McCook is serving us well," Poppe said.

City Manager Kurt Fritsch said a Nebraska-based company was a positive for the city. He also noted that McCook will be one of largest cities in the Great Plains cable network.