LAUREL HILL — Gulf Power may operate within city limits for at least 15 years under a new ordinance.
The City Council on June 5 unanimously approved altering a franchise agreement with the utility from its initial 30-year allowance to provide service in the area.
City leaders voted 3-1 to not increase the franchise fee from 3 percent to 6 percent. Councilman Johnny James was the lone dissenter.
James contended that increasing the fee would benefit the city’s financial status.
Still, “Gulf Power will not be paying the franchise fee; the citizens would pay the fee,” Hendren said. “My input is that the citizens are already taxed enough."
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gulf Power gets 15-year contract