The Lake Orion Village Council has approved an agreement with Oakland County for Wireless Oakland, a public-private partnership to provide wireless internet service throughout the entire county.
After hearing a proposal from Wireless Oakland Manager of Application Services Scott Oppmann earlier this month, the council agreed to adopt a resolution approving the agreement, which states the village will waive any permit, construction or inspection fees associated with the initial implementation of the service in the village.
‘Whatever the village can do to get us online as fast as possible, I’m all for it,? said council member Michael Toth. ‘I don’t believe this will be invasive at all.?
Oppmann said the county was working to get agreements with local governments approved, and will then work on the project’s engineering.
‘You’re being very proactive, and I thank you for that,? he said, adding that the goal was county-wide wireless internet coverage.
‘We don’t want to see any holes,? he said.
In response to a query from council member Doug Dendel, Oppmann said the county has not yet been to the Orion Township Board with an agreement.
He said it has taken longer than the county expected to get a joint-user agreement approved with Michtel Communications and DTE.
Wireless Oakland will utilize public assets such as DTE poles for placing equipment, and chose Michtel out of 13 private sector companies who bid for the rights to contract with the county to provide the wireless service.
‘That’s kind of the final lynch pin,? Oppmann said of the joint user agreement, adding it was to be completed within the week.
Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel noted that the wireless equipment to be placed on streetlights, light poles, antennae and buildings was not invisible, but virtually so.
‘It’s not a sore thumb type of thing,? she said.
For more information on Wireless Oakland, visit www.oakgov.com/wireless, or email wirelessoakland @co.oakland.mi.us