SurfAir fiber network deal back before Rock Falls council Tuesday

ROCK FALLS – The Rock Falls City Council will again hear from Surf Air Wireless about the potential lease of the city's fiber optic network Tuesday.

The deal for Surf Air to handle the build out of the city's internet service first came before the board in September, but concerns over some of the details caused a delay. The initial deal announced Sept. 1 would have sold the network to Surf Air for $2.25 million with work slated to begin almost immediately.

After it was pulled from the agenda for the Sept. 15 meeting, city attorney Jim Reece suggested a lease-to-own option, which Surf Air's bank approved a couple of weeks later.

This arrangement also frees the company from having to come up with all of the money up front, instead using that savings to speed along the work still yet to be done.

The city could also pass an ordinance providing for payment of outstanding general obligation bonds and approve the purchase of property at 2211 Canal St.

The council will also hear a first reading of an ordinance relating to maintenance and repair of the exteriors of buildings in the Uptown Business District.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers.