Shiner City Council hears Rise Broadband presentation, discuss tennis grant

The Shiner City Council heard a presentation from Rise Broadband and discussed a potential grant for the tennis courts at the Aug. 5 meeting. 
“Our goal is to empower rural America with our fiber,” Rise Broadband Launch Manager Jeremy McDonald said. “Our main goal is to provide service in smaller communities.”
There are currently seven offices from Rise Broadband in Texas. 
“We have local and US based call centers,” McDonald said. “When we put in our network, we guarantee it will last for about 40 years. We’re planning to hit 1,254 homes in Shiner for the initial round. As we see new developments happening, we would definitely love to get into those as they’re building.”
As the construction process starts, fliers will be put up on people’s doors to notify them. There will be a QR code folks can scan if there’s any concerns.
“We are all underground construction,” McDonald said. “If there’s a need to do aerial construction, we are flexible on that as well. We believe that by doing it underground, we can provide a safe service if weather concerns happen. We will be responsible for all the construction.”
For one gigabyte of service, it will be $80 a month. 500 megabytes will be $55 a month, and 250 megabytes will be $45 a month.
“In other cities, we’ve also offered a two gigabyte package as well,” McDonald said.
There will be no cost for the City of Shiner for the construction provided by Rise Broadband. 
Council did not take any action on this item. 
Shiner ISD Tennis Coach Courtney Johnson also gave a presentation to council discussing a grant she would like to apply for from the United States Tennis Association.
“We are very blessed to have six tennis courts at Green-Dickson Park, but there are some things I’m hoping we could consider to improve our ability to host people,” Johnson said. 
“Eventually, I’d like to have more tennis courts and I want to apply for a grant to help design those courts. However, the main thing I’m looking for is for an outbuilding. We have outgrown our storage shed and when you host a tournament, there’s no place to set up. 
I’m hoping to have an outbuilding that would serve the community and the tennis program. I’d love for one side to include a concession stand and the other side a storage facility.”
The funding for this grant is limited to 50% of the total cost. Johnson would ask the All-Sports Booster Club and the Athletic and Academic Association as well as the city to cover the remaining cost.
Other items on the agenda include: 
• A representative from Golden Crescent spoke in public comment regarding a $750,000 grant the city could apply for.
• The Municipal Court report for Quarter Two was given to council. Criminal cases have gone up a bit according to Judge Robert Penley. 
• On the agenda, the Half Moon Holiday’s report was to be given from the Shiner Chamber of Commerce; however, there was no representative at the meeting. 
• The City of Shiner approved the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025. 
• An application to move in a single-family home at 415 N. Ave F. was approved.
• A variance request for carport on 720 E. Wendel St. was approved. 
• A public hearing for the voter-approved tax rate was approved for Sept. 9. The next Shiner City Council meeting will be held on that same day as well.
• A 1973 Ditch Witch was sold for $369.99.
• A burn permit application for 707 Louisiana St. was approved.