The Monday night meeting unfolded mainly in closed session, with the city first discussing the annual review of City Manger Ed Burchins before approving a 2.5 percent raise in open session. The council then went back behind closed doors to discuss the SchoolLink contract with city attorney Chuck Hicks, emerging with a contract for a different company to provide the service.
Burchins said it was time for the city to terminate the contract with SchoolLink, describing the perennial issues of nonpayment, poor customer relations and slow internet speeds as long-term "administrative issues" to which there seemed no reprieve.
"We've been limping along too long with them and needed to get a company that will deliver," he said.
Customers of the city's broadband service will see faster speeds and more diverse service with no additional costs as a result of the switch, Burchins said.
The broadband service is self-sufficient and does not require taxpayer dollars, he said.
LMK was chosen because of their broad range of services, faster speeds and experience, Burchins said. The company provides internet services to half of the state's 100 community colleges, helped build a server farm in Asheville for the state to back up computer data and has done work for the Department of Defense.
The city manager hopes that the new company will expand the customer base through their better marketing techniques.
The immediate task is making a smooth transition, Burchins said, but he hopes to begin expanding it's broadband users within three years.
Currently, the schools and both city and county government offices use the broadband, but there has been little headway in attracting business customers, Burchins said.
Scotland Memorial Hospital currently uses the broadband infrastructure, he said, and St. Andrews Presbyterian College was a SchoolLink customer until prohibitive costs and sluggish speeds sent the private institution elsewhere for the service.
Burchins said the city and SchoolLink are working on an "amicable settlement" to ensure a seamless transition and for the beleaguered Fayetteville tech company to payback the $235,000 it currently owes Laurinburg.
City Council also approved a new year-long contract after his annual review, raising his pay to $102,500 a year and setting a $600 per month travel allowance.
Burchins takes the action as a vote of confidence in his job as city manager.
"I hope it's a recognition of my performance," Burchins said. "I really enjoy working with the entire council."
He said he's also enjoyed working with the city staff and looks forward to another year of working for Laurinburg.
Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Parker said the extra compensation was deserved.
"When he came to Laurinburg, he came with a very reasonable salary," Parker said.
Council felt Burchins deserved the raise because of his work for the city, Parker said.
Read more in Wednesday's The Laurinburg Exchange or online at www.LaurinburgExchange.com.
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