PINE HILL - Pine Hill’s Town Council voted Monday night to grant a 10-year franchise agreement extension to Galaxy Cable, the company that provides cable service to the town and its police jurisdiction.

Under the agreement, Mayor Harry Mason said the town would be paid five percent of the gross recepits for the company’s business inside the city limits and 2.5 percent on money taken in from customers inside the police jurisdiction.

The vote came after months of haggling between the town and the company. Mason said the company indicated it would be offering the BET channel and TurnerSouth starting on Jan. 1 if the town went ahead with the renewal.

"They have to renew their franchise agreements within 36 months of the expiration date under the FCC guidelines," Mason pointed out to the council.

Councilwoman Roberta Jordan had asked Mason to check with the Alabama League of Municipalities on a service to see if the company was meeting all its financial obligations to the town as called for in the franchise agreement.

Mason told the council Monday night that he did check on that but was told the cost of the service would be $1,000 up front plus another $1,000 for "out-of-pocket expenses."

"That sounded a little steep to me," Mason said and Jordan agreed.

The council then voted to okay the extension.

Councilwoman Beverly Pope said it didn’t really matter what the town did with regard to Galaxy, which had been a source of complaints from several residents.

"The franchise agreement doesn’t keep another company from coming in," she observed. "It doesn’t give them a monopoly."

Police News

In police news for the past month, Chief John Brown told the council that Officer Tony Gates was the Officer of the Month for November. He added that Gates has completed training with the police dog, Harley, and the two are now working together.

In November, Brown said the PHPS worked 157 calls, resulting in 12 incident-offense reports and 36 arrests. One arrest was for a felony offense while 35 were for misdemeanors. The PHPD recorded five drug arrests, one domestic violence arrest and housed one prisoner in jail in November.

Brown said officers traveled 7,725 miles in police units last month, using 540 gallons of gasoline.

Officers issued 82 traffic citations in November and 119 warning tickets. They made two DUI arrests and worked two accidents.

"A lot of those citations were the result of the Click-It Or Ticket campaign," Brown said. "It was very successful. Most of the motorists we stopped at our checkpoints were using seatbelts and following proper traffic laws."

In a final bit of police news, the council voted to approve Shannon Averitt to become a member of the PHPD’s Auxiliary.

Other Business

In other business, the council:

• Heard Jordan announce that the town is still pursuing a grant from ADECA to help resurface the walking track. Mason said an inspector from ADECA had visited the park last week and looked at the track.

• Heard Utilities Superintendent Dusty McDanal report that water production is meeting demand, despite the water plant losing a pump last week. He credited recent improvements, including the addition of an extra pump, with keeping everyone supplied with water.

• Heard Mason report that revenues are coming in slightly under budget. As a result, he said department heads have been asked to hold off on major purchases until money starts flowing in the first part of 2004.

• Approved a one-time raise for town employees of $75.