2046 RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A JOINT
USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,
ARKANSAS,AND SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
D/B/A AT&T ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, in the areas in the State of Arkansas served by the City of West Memphis
("City") and Southwestern Bell d/b/a/AT&T ("Telephone Company"),joint use of certain Poles
is currently not governed by the teims of a Joint Use Contract, between the City and the
Telephone Company; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to continue such joint use and to use other Poles jointly in
the future, when and where such joint use will be of mutual advantage in meeting their respective
service requirements.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, that the Joint Use Pole Attachment Agreement is
hereby approved and the Mayor of the City of West Memphis is hereby authorized to execute a
joint use pole attachment agreement on behalf of the City in substantially the same form as
attached to and made a part of this resolution, and marked "Exhibit A."
PASSED AND APPROVED this 19th day of December, 2013.
WILLIAM H. JOHN N. MAYOR
ATTEST:
P,41 • PARA, CITY CLERK
GENERAL AGREEMENT FOR
JOINT USE OF POLES
PREAMBLE
THIS AGREEMENT, effective this 1st day of January, 2014 (the "Effective Date"), by
and between the City of West Memphis a municipal corporation organized under the laws
of the State of Arkansas (hereinafter called the "Electric Company"), and Southwestern
Bell Telephone Company a Delaware Corporation, d/b/a AT&T Arkansas (hereinafter
called the "Telephone Company"), desiring to cooperate in the joint use of their
respective Poles, erected or to be erected within the areas in which both Parties render
service in the State of Arkansas, whenever and wherever such use shall, in the estimation
of both Parties, be compatible with their respective needs.
WHEREAS, in the areas in the State of Arkansas served by both Parties, joint use of
certain Poles is currently not governed by the terms of a Joint Use Contract, between the
Electric Company and the Telephone Company; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to continue such joint use and to use other Poles jointly in
the future, when and where such joint use will be of mutual advantage in meeting their
respective service requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein
contained, the Parties hereto for themselves, their successors and assigns do hereby agree
to the following terms and conditions:
ARTICLE I
SCOPE OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall be in effect in areas in which both of the Parties render service and
shall cover, subject to the terms of this agreement, all Poles of the Parties now existing or
hereafter erected, excepting Poles, not yet in Joint Use, which carry, or are intended by
the Owner to carry circuits or facilities of such a character that makes Joint Use of such
Poles undesirable because of a bona fide technical or operational reason. This Agreement
is intended to govern Attachments placed by the Electric Company for the purpose of
providing services over its electric facilities; and the Telephone Company for the
purposes of providing services over its communications facilities.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms when used herein shall have the
following meanings:
A. Agreement means this Joint Use Agreement entered into between the Electric
Company and the Telephone Company.
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B. Allocated Space is the space reserved for each Party and is defined as follows:
1. For Electric Company - it is the exclusive use of eight feet (8')
measured downward from the top of a Standard Joint Use Pole,
including Pole top, transformer and other miscellaneous assemblies.
2. For Telephone Company - it is the exclusive use of two (2) feet of
space measured upward from the Initial Point of Attachment on the
Pole. The Initial Point of Attachment shall be the lowest point on the
pole required to provide at all times the Code minimum clearance
above ground for the lowest horizontally run line, wire or cable
attached in such space except where by mutual agreement of the field
representatives of the Parties sound engineering practices dictate a
higher minimum clearance. No Third Party shall place Attachments
on the Pole below the point of the Telephone Company's Attachments
if Telephone Company's attachments are placed at the lowest point on
the pole required to provide minimum clearance above the ground.
C. Anchor is a metal plate or screw placed in the ground to provide a counter load to the
stringing tensions of Telephone Company or Electric Company plant. Anchors shall
be of sufficient size to hold the load placed on it.
D. Attachment is any wire, cable, strand, material, pedestal, or apparatus attached to a
Joint Use Pole, excluding ground wires and service drops, (provided that the service
drop attachment is located inside the allocated space on the pole as defined in Article
2 section B.2) now or hereafter used by either Party in the construction, operation or
maintenance of its plant. If a service drop is the only attachment on the pole then that
is considered an attachment for billing purposes. Licensee's ground wires shall not
be considered Attachments for inventory or billing purposes.
E. Code means the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), as amended from time to
time.
F. Emergency means a situation where the Pole is irreparably damaged, or subject to
failing, and such failure is likely to jeopardize the general public.
G. Joint Use means the occupancy, or reservation of space to the extent allowed by law,
on a Pole by both the Owner and the Licensee.
H. Joint Use Pole is a Pole upon which space is provided under this Agreement for the
Attachments of both Parties, whether such space is actually occupied by Attachments
or reserved therefore upon specific request and to the extent allowed by law.
I. Licensee is the Party having the right under this Agreement to make Attachments to a
Joint Use Pole that the other Party owns.
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J. Make-Ready Work means the work required to accommodate Licensee's Attachments
on a Joint Use Pole, including, but not limited to, Rearrangement or Transfer of
existing Attachments and the facilities of other entities, inspections, engineering
work, tree trimming (other than tree trimming performed for normal maintenance
purposes), and Pole Relocation and Replacement.
K. Owner is the Party owning the Joint Use Pole.
L. Party means either Electric Company or Telephone Company; collectively Electric
Company and Telephone Company will be referred to as Parties.
M. Permit means a request to attach to a pole submitted by the Licensee to the Owner for
review and approval prior to the placement of Attachments by Licensee.
N. Place or Placement means the installation of a Pole suitable for Attachments.
O. Pole or Poles include the singular and plural.
P. Rearrange is to move Attachments from one position to another on a single Pole.
Q. Relocate is to change the location of an existing Pole by removing and reinstalling
said Pole in a new location or installing a new Pole in the new location and removing
the existing Pole.
R. Replace or Replacement is to install a new Pole in close proximity to an existing Pole
and removing the existing Pole.
S. Reserved, as applied to space on a Pole, means unoccupied Allocated Space provided,
and maintained by Owner, either for its own use or for Licensee's exclusive use, to
the extent allowed by law. All Reserved space is subject to rental payments under the
terms of this Agreement, provided that an approved Permit exists.
T. Right-of-Way is the legal right to use the property of another.
U. Standard Joint Use Pole means a forty (40) foot class five (5) wood Pole as classified
by the Pole classification tables of the American National Standards Institute. Also
included as Standard Joint Use Poles are those poles which the Licensee has accepted
as suitable for its use by the installation of its Attachments to the Pole.
V. Standard Space Allocation means the Allocated Space for the Electric Company and
the Telephone Company.
W. Third Party means a person or entity that is not a signatory to this Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, Third Party Attachments shall be considered by the
Licensee as Attachments of the Owner.
X. Transfer is the removal of Attachments from one Pole and placing them upon another.
Y. Unallocated Space is that part of a Pole not included in allocated space.
ARTICLE III
SPECIFICATIONS
A. Joint Use Poles covered by this Agreement shall at all times be in conformity with all
applicable provisions of law and with the minimum requirements of the Code in
effect at the time the respective Attachments are made, the standards of the Owner
which are required of all parties using Owner's poles and with such additional
requirements as may be mutually authorized by both Parties. If any Attachments
were in compliance with the Code and the standards of the Owner when made, but
later become out of compliance with the Code and the standards of the Owner due to
changes in the Code and/or the standards of the Owner and are not covered by any
grandfather clause as to such Attachments, then such Attachments shall be brought
into compliance with the Code and the standards of the Owner when any work is
next performed on such Attachments. To the extent any requirements or
specifications of the Code or standards of the Owner may conflict, the more stringent
shall apply. This provision shall not be interpreted to impose an obligation on either
Party to inspect existing Attachments every time the Code is amended.
B. As long as the provisions of Code and/or the standards of the Owner in effect at the
time the Attachments were made have been met, any Joint Use Pole in place before
the Effective Date of this Agreement shall be deemed a Standard Joint Use Pole and
satisfactory to both Parties and adequate for their requirements, whether or not the
space allocations defined herein have been observed.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS FOR USE OF SPACE
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party hereby permits joint
use by the other Party of any of its Poles in accordance with the Standard Space
Allocation and the following:
A. Either Party may use vertical space below its Allocated Space if the proposed use is
authorized by the requirements of the Code and standards of the Owner and such use
does not preclude the use of the space by the Party to which such space is allocated.
Use of such space must be in compliance with all other provisions of this Agreement
including Section XII, Rentals.
B. If the Allocated Space is subsequently needed and the provisions of the Code and
standards of the Owner cannot be met, then the Party to whom the space is not
allocated, but who is utilizing the space allocated to the other Party pursuant to
section A of this Article, shall be responsible, at its sole expense, for the cost of
Rearrangement or Pole Replacement when necessary in order to accommodate the
Party having the Allocated Space.
C. So long as the provisions of the Code and standards of the Owner are met, Unallocated
Space below that party's Allocated Space may be used for vertical runs and/or the
mounting of equipment or Attachments by either Party. If the provisions of the Code
and standards of the Owner cannot subsequently be met, then billing for any required
modification will be in accordance with Article IX, Division of Costs. All other
provisions of the contract, including Article III and Article XII shall apply to vertical
attachments.
ARTICLE V
ESTABLISHING JOINT USE OF POLES
A. So long as the subject Pole is not excluded from Joint Use under the provisions of
Article I, the Licensee may receive permission to install initial Attachments or place
additional Attachments by submitting a Permit (Exhibit A) and receiving approval
prior to placing such Attachments. Within fifteen (15) business days after the receipt
of such completed application the owner shall notify the applicant in writing whether
the application is approved or rejected. If so approved or if not rejected within the
fifteen day period, the pole will become a Joint Pole, and the Licensee shall have the
right to place Attachments on such pole subject to all other provisions of this
Agreement, including Article III. If the permit is approved, it shall be considered
Reserved for the Licensee's use and will be subject to all other provisions of this
Agreement, including Section XII, Rentals. If Make-Ready Work is required before a
Licensee can place its Attachments on a Pole, the Owner shall provide an estimate of
the cost of such work and the amount which the Licensee shall be responsible for.
Upon Licensee's approval of the estimated cost of Make-Ready Work, the Owner
shall complete the Make-Ready Work in a reasonable time and promptly notify the
Licensee in writing or by electronic means when the Make-Ready Work is completed.
In emergency situations, the Owner will cooperate with the Licensee to have the
Make-Ready Work performed on an expedited basis. If a Third Party must move its
Attachments in order for Licensee to place its Attachments on a Pole, the Licensee
shall pay the Third Party's reasonable Transfer costs. Licensee shall reimburse
Owner for the actual costs of Make-Ready Work, however in no case shall the
Licensee be responsible for Make-ready Work in excess of 20 % of the Owner's
estimate unless Licensee has revised the character of attachments or has otherwise
modified its plans from those originally submitted to Owner.
B. Whenever Licensee desires to add to or upgrade its facilities in an existing Joint Use
Pole line, it will submit a Permit in the form of Exhibit A to Owner specifying the
type of existing and proposed facilities to be attached to Owner's poles. If the existing
pole is insufficient for the existing and proposed new facilities, Owner shall rebuild
the Pole/Poles to accommodate Licensee's upgraded facilities. For a Pole erected to
replace such Joint Use Pole solely because the existing Pole is of insufficient height
or strength to provide adequately for Licensee's requirements, and where such Joint
Use Pole at time of erection or by Attachment thereto by Licensee had been
previously pronounced satisfactory, then Licensee shall thereupon pay to the Owner
the cost of the Replacement Pole, including Transfers and Rearrangements of the
Owner and the cost of removal of the old pole, less salvage. Upon Licensee's
request, Owner shall provide Licensee with documentation to support Owner's cost
demand.
C. Notwithstanding sections (A) and (B) above, Licensee is not required to submit a
Permit or otherwise provide notice before placing non-guyed service wires.
D. Each Party shall place its own Attachments on the new Joint Use Poles and place
appropriate guys to sustain any unbalanced loads caused by its Attachments in
advance of tensioning conductors or strand and/or placing cable. Guys shall be
installed prior to the placement of any wires or associated equipment. The foregoing
shall not apply to service drops.
E. In the event Owner discovers: a) unreported Attachments, excluding non-guyed
service drop Attachments; b) unauthorized use of Owner's anchors as outlined in
Article IX, Division of Costs; and/or c) authorized Attachments which do not comply
with requirements of Article III, Specifications, hereinafter "irregular plant
conditions", Owner shall inform Licensee of the same. Owner shall also state whether
any pole on which an unreported attachment has been placed is excluded from Joint
Use under Article I of this Agreement. Licensee shall, within thirty (30) days of
receiving notice of any unreported attachments: (1) remit to Owner any unpaid rental
due for such Attachments; and (2) remove any Attachments made to poles which are
excluded from Joint Use. A completed permit for all unreported Attachments made to
Joint Use Poles shall accompany payment. For purposes of determining unpaid rental
for each unreported Attachment in the event that the time of installation cannot be
determined, it shall be deemed to have occurred on the date succeeding the day on
which the last physical inventory was performed in accordance with Article XII,
Rentals.
F. Within forty-five (45) days of receiving notice from Owner, Licensee, at its sole
expense, shall, replace, relocate or modify all or any: a) unreported Attachments,
excluding non-guyed service drop Attachments; b) unauthorized Attachments to
Owner's anchors as outlined in Article XIX, Division of Costs; and/or c) Attachments
which do not comply with requirements of Article III, Specifications. Licensee shall
notify Owner of the performance of such work within two (2) weeks of its
completion.
G. Costs in connection with establishing Joint Use Poles, including any necessary Pole
Replacements, shall be borne by the Parties hereto in the manner provided in Article
IX, Division of Costs.
ARTICLE VI
ERECTING, REPLACING OR RELOCATING JOINT USE POLES
A. Existing Joint Use, Licensee Upgrades Its Facilities. Whenever Licensee desires to
add to or upgrade its facilities in an existing Joint Use Pole line, it will submit a
Permit in the form of Exhibit A to Owner specifying the type of existing and
proposed facilities to be attached to Owner's poles. If the existing pole is insufficient
for the existing and proposed new facilities, Owner shall rebuild the Pole/Poles to
accommodate Licensee's upgraded facilities. For a Pole erected to replace such Joint
Use Pole solely because the existing Pole is of insufficient height or strength to
provide adequately for Licensee's requirements, and where such Joint Use Pole at
time of erection or by Attachment thereto by Licensee had been previously
pronounced satisfactory, then Licensee shall thereupon pay to the Owner the
reasonable cost of the Replacement Pole, including Transfers and Rearrangements of
the Owner and the cost of removal of the old pole, less salvage. Upon Licensee's
request, Owner shall provide Licensee with documentation to support Owner's cost
demand.
B. Existing Joint Use, Owner Upgrades Its Facilities. In the event that Owner desires to
upgrade its facilities in a manner that would require action by the Licensee in an
existing Joint Use Pole line, Owner will notify Licensee in writing or by electronic
means of this desire, and also when construction of the new Pole is completed or
required Rearrangements have been made. Transfer of Licensee's facilities shall be
governed by Article VIII, Maintenance of Poles and Attachments.
C. In emergency situations, Party may Replace Poles for the other Party. Where Poles are
Replaced on an emergency basis, the Party Replacing the Poles shall give the Pole
Owner verbal notice of the emergency situation as soon as practicable and give
written notice of the Replacement within five (5) business days of making the
Replacement. The Owner shall pay the other Party all reasonable costs associated
with such Replacement. In non-emergency situations Licensee shall not replace
Pole(s) of the Owner without first receiving authorization from the Owner. The new
Pole shall remain the property of the original Owner whose Pole was Replaced. .
D. Each Party shall place its own Attachments on the new Joint Use Poles and place
appropriate guys to sustain any unbalanced loads caused by its Attachments in
advance of tensioning conductors or strand and/or placing cable.
E. Costs in connection with establishing new Joint Use Poles shall be borne by the
Parties hereto in the manner provided in Article IX, Division of Costs.
ARTICLE VII
RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR LICENSEE'S ATTACHMENTS
A. Each Party shall be responsible for obtaining its own Rights of Way. When new lines
are constructed after the effective date of this Agreement, the Owner may obtain
suitable right-of-way for both Parties on Joint Use Poles, using a form substantially
similar to Exhibit B. Said right-of-way easements shall be in sufficient detail for
identification and Licensee may receive a copy of any such easement for the purpose
of ensuring that it is duly recorded in the public records of the county in which the
right-of-way easement is located. No guarantee is given by the Owner of permission
from property owners, municipalities, or others for the use of its Poles by the
Licensee.
B. The Owner shall, when constructing a new Joint Use Pole line, clear a right-of-way
sufficient for both Parties. Subsequent trimming shall be the responsibility of the
Party requiring the trimming. The Parties may develop, by mutual agreement,
arrangements for sharing costs of subsequent trimming and repetitive clearing to
ensure safe access to the poles and facilities of each Party.
ARTICLE VIII
MAINTENANCE OF POLES AND ATTACHMENTS
A. The Owner shall, at its own expense, maintain its Joint Use Poles in a safe and
serviceable condition, in accordance with Article III, Specifications, and shall
Replace, reinforce or repair Poles that, in the Owner's judgment, become defective.
B. Whenever it is necessary to Replace or Relocate a Joint Use Pole, the Owner shall,
before making such Replacement or Relocation give reasonable notice thereof in
writing (except in case of emergency, when verbal notice will be given and
subsequently confirmed in writing) to the Licensee, specifying in such notice the time
of such proposed Replacement or Relocation and the Licensee shall at the time so
specified Transfer its Attachments to the new or Relocated Joint Use Pole.
C. An alternate method of notification (as opposed to the above described written method
of notification) may be used when mutually agreed upon by both Parties. The
electronic notification system of pole transfer request, provided by the National Joint
Utilities Notification System ("NJUNS"), may be used as the notification required by
this article. As a prerequisite for use of this system, both Parties shall have and utilize
the necessary electronic equipment required by NJUNS for this system.
D. Should the Licensee fail to Transfer its Attachments to the new Joint Pole on the date
specified for such Transfer of Attachments (after all Owner responsible Transfers
have been accomplished), the Owner may elect to relinquish the ownership of the old
pole from which it has removed its Attachments, with the giving of verbal notice to
be subsequently followed in writing. If the Owner so elects, such old pole shall
thereupon, at no cost to the Licensee, become the property of the Licensee, as is, and
the Licensee shall save harmless the former Owner of such pole from all obligation,
liability, damages, cost, expenses or charges incurred thereafter, and not arising out of
anything theretofore occurring because of, or arising out of, the presence or condition
of such pole or of any Attachments thereon. In instances where the Electrical
Distributor is the Owner of such pole, the unused portion of the Pole above the
Licensee's Attachments shall be cut off and removed by the Owner before
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relinquishing ownership, if the pole remains in structural conflict with the power
route. Licensee shall reimburse Owner for the costs incurred in removal of the
"unused portion of the Pole."
E. Should the Licensee fail to Transfer its Attachments to the new Joint Pole after the
date specified for such Transfer of Attachments and after all Third Party and Owner
responsible Transfers have been accomplished, whichever is later ("Licensee Transfer
Date"), and if the Owner does not elect to relinquish the ownership of the old Pole
from which it has removed its Attachments, the cost incurred by the Owner to return
to the job site and remove the old pole will be paid by the Licensee. In the event the
Licensee notifies the Owner that the Transfer has been accomplished and the Owner
returns to the job site to remove the old Pole and discovers that the Transfer has not
been made, then the Licensee will pay the Owner's cost of the trip to and from the job
site. The intent of this paragraph is to ensure timely Transfers and minimize
situations of two or more Poles needlessly remaining at the same location for
extended periods of time.
F. When Replacing a Joint Use Pole, the new Pole will be installed as closely as possible
to the existing Pole unless special conditions make it necessary to set it in a different
location. If conditions make it necessary to set the pole in a different location, the
parties will meet and agree upon a mutually acceptable new location prior to the pole
being placed.
G. In the event of termination of the rights of the Parties to attach to additional Joint Use
Poles, the Parties may continue to place additional Attachments on existing Joint Use
Poles, subject to the normal permitting processes as provided for in Article V,
Establishing Joint Use of Poles, and to maintain their existing Attachments.
ARTICLE IX
DIVISION OF COSTS
A. The cost of establishing a new Joint Use Pole line shall be borne by the Parties in
accordance with the following:
1. A Standard Joint Use Pole, or smaller, shall be erected at the sole
expense of the Owner.
2. In the case of a Pole larger than the Standard Joint Use Pole required by
either Party, the Party requiring the extra height and/or class shall pay
for the additional reasonable costs in excess of a Standard Joint Use
Pole. If Owner adds features or betterments not required by Licensee,
Owner shall pay the costs associated with such features or betterments.
B. The cost of establishing joint use on existing Pole lines or modifying existing Joint
Use Pole lines shall be borne by the Parties in accordance with the following:
1. For Placement of intermediate Poles or Replacement of non-defective
Poles for the Licensee, the Licensee shall pay the total reasonable cost
of the intermediate Pole or the Replacement Pole and the Owner's
costs to Transfer its facilities and the cost of removal of the old pole,
less salvage. Licensee shall be responsible for Transferring its own
facilities.
2. Replacement of existing defective Poles with a new Pole of the same
size or class shall be accomplished at the expense of the Owner. Each
Party shall be responsible for Transferring its own facilities.
C. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, each Party shall bear the
costs of placement, Transfer, and Rearrangement of its own Attachments, place guys
and Anchors to sustain any unbalanced loads caused by its Attachments, and perform
any tree trimming or cutting incident thereto.
1. Licensee is prohibited from using Owner's existing anchors without the
express written consent of Owner. If such use of Owner's anchor is
requested by Licensee, or found existing in the field, Licensee will pay
Owner for any costs incurred in evaluating the overall holding capacity
of the existing anchor as a result of imposition of Licensee's load on said
anchor. If the anchor is sufficient to support the existing and proposed
loads, and if such use is approved by Owner, Licensee shall pay to
Owner a fee equal to one half the current installed cost of such anchor.
2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where one Party provides, at the request
of the other Party, double thimble anchor rods and anchors for the use of
both Parties, the Party requesting the double thimble anchor rods and
anchors shall pay to the Party placing the double anchor rods and
anchors a sum equal to one-half the cost of the anchor rods and anchors
in place.
3. In cases where existing anchor rods and anchors are adequate for the
needs of only one Party, the Party desiring additional guys and anchors
may install anchors and anchor rods at no expense to the other Party; or,
in case of right-of-way restrictions, may provide a double thimble
anchor rod and anchor to which the other Party can Transfer its existing
guy at its own expense.
D. In the case of a Pole larger than the Standard Joint Use Pole where the additional
height and/or strength required is for the purpose of both Parties, the reasonable cost
of the increase above a standard Joint Use Pole shall be shared equally by both
Parties, with Owner being responsible for the cost of a Standard Joint Use Pole and
Licensee being responsible for one half of the reasonable expense of the additional
height or strength.
E. When less costly Rearrangements can be performed by either Party, which would
defer the cost of Replacing a Pole, the Parties shall work together to attempt to
minimize costs, with the Owner retaining the right to replace its Poles when it deems
appropriate.
F. Any payments made by the Licensee under the foregoing provisions of this Article
shall not entitle the Licensee to ownership of any part of said Pole.
G. Each Party shall bear the actual reasonable cost of repairing damages to the other
Party's facilities occasioned by its improper construction practices, its negligence, or
the negligence of others acting on its behalf.
H. Either Party may request reasonable documentation supporting any demand for
payment.
ARTICLE X
CHANGE IN THE CHARACTER OF CIRCUITS
When either Party desires to change or upgrade its system which causes it to exceed its
Allocated Space and to Replace pole(s) in a joint use route, it shall give the other Party
sixty (60) days' written notice of such contemplated change. Within thirty (30) days of
receipt of such notice given by the Party making the change, the other Party shall respond
in writing whether it agrees to joint use with the proposed changes. In any event, the
work shall proceed in accordance with the provisions below:
1. The parties hereto shall work together in good faith to determine which
facilities shall be removed from existing points on the Joint Use Poles
involved and the cost of establishing such changes in a new position on such
poles, or in a new location elsewhere, so that the Party not requiring the
change can continue to furnish the same service that existed before the
changes were proposed.
2. If the Party requesting the upgrade ("the Requesting Party") is the Owner, the
Requesting Party shall be responsible for the costs associated with the pole
replacements in the manner set forth below, and its own transfer costs. If the
project involves 20 poles or less, the Licensee shall bear the costs of
transferring its facilities. If the project involves more than 20 poles, the
Owner shall pay a pro-rata share of the Licensee's transfer costs based on the
following percentage: the numerator shall be the total number of poles in the
project less 20 and the denominator shall be the total number of poles
(including the first 20). The Licensee is responsible for paying the remainder
of its transfer costs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the replacement poles
are not suitable for joint use and, as a result, Licensee is prohibited from
relocating its facilities to the new poles, the Requesting Party shall be
responsible for reimbursement of the costs incurred by Licensee to make
changes so that the Licensee can continue to meet its service requirements.
3. If the Requesting Party is the Licensee, the Requesting Party shall pay the
Owner the difference between the in-place cost of the taller/stronger poles and
the in-place cost of the Standard Joint Use Pole, as well as the then in-place
value of the poles replaced. The Requesting party shall also be responsible for
the costs incurred by both parties to transfer their facilities to the new poles.
4. In either case, ownership of any new Poles placed pursuant to this Article
shall remain with the Owner of the poles that were replaced, unless otherwise
agreed to by the Parties in writing.
A party shall not attempt to circumvent subsection (2) of the Article by dividing a project
into smaller segments.
ARTICLE XI
ABANDONMENT
A. If the Owner decides at any time to abandon any Joint Use Pole, it shall give the
Licensee notice in writing or by electronic means at least sixty (60) days prior to the
date on which it intends to abandon such Pole. If at the expiration of said period, the
Owner and any Third Parties have no Attachments on such Pole but the Licensee
shall not have Relocated or removed all of its Attachments therefrom, the Owner may
send Licensee written notice that Owner intends to transfer ownership of the Pole to
Licensee. If Licensee does not remove its Attachments from the Pole within ten (10)
days of receipt of Owner's notice of intent to transfer ownership, Owner may transfer
ownership of the Pole to Licensee by sending Licensee written notice of the transfer
of ownership. Upon receipt of Owner's notice of transfer of ownership, the Pole shall
then become the property of Licensee and Licensee shall save harmless the former
Owner from all obligations, liabilities, damages, costs, expenses or charges incurred
thereafter arising out of the presence, location or condition of such Pole or any of
Licensee's Attachments thereon, unless such liabilities or damages arise from the
negligence or intentional acts or omissions of the former Owner.
B. If Licensee decides to transfer its Attachments after Pole ownership has been
transferred, Licensee may do so, but Licensee will be responsible for the pulling and
disposal of the old Pole(s).
C. This Article may not be used to circumvent the procedures set forth in this Agreement
regarding Transfers.
ARTICLE XII
RENTALS
A. Rental. The Telephone Company and the Electric Company shall pay, as follows, an
annual per Pole rental in arrears. These rates shall be effective through 2017.
Invoice for 2014 for 2013 rental $13.00
Invoice for 2015 for 2014 rental $14.00
Invoice for 2016 for 2015 rental $15.00
Invoice for 2017 for 2016 rental $16.00
Invoice for 2018 for 2017 rental $17.00
B. Netting. Rather than Electric Company and Telephone Company issuing separate
bills, the Party owning the greater number of Joint Use Poles shall calculate the
amounts due for each party and reduce the amount billed by the rental due the other
Party, so that a net bill is issued. After the netting process, the predominant pole
owner will prepare and forward an invoice on or about the tenth day of December.
Payment shall be due within forty-five (45) days from submission of invoice by the
predominant pole owner. In the event that payment of an invoice is not received by
the predominant pole owner on or before the date due, or is underpaid, the party
receiving the invoice shall pay in addition to the amount due, interest in the maximum
amount allowed by State law.
C. Annually on or before December 1st, the Parties acting in cooperation shall, subject to
the provisions of this Article, tabulate the total number of Joint Use Poles in
accordance with procedures agreed upon by the respective Parties.
D. For the purpose of computing the total annual rental fee due hereunder, the total fee
shall be based upon the number of Joint Use Poles determined by the current physical
Pole inventory plus any additional Poles brought under this Agreement and less any
Poles removed from Joint Use under this Agreement.
E. At intervals of not less than five (5) years and at the written request of a Party, an
actual physical inventory of Joint Use Poles may be made jointly by representatives
of the Parties or by a third party chosen by both Parties. The Parties shall cooperate in
the selection of the contractor, and if one can be agreed upon, the Parties shall share
equally the costs of the inventory. If the Parties cannot agree upon a contractor, each
Party shall select their own representative to conduct an inventory, with the cost of
each representative to be borne by the Party employing such representative. If there is
any difference in the number of attachments found by the inventory and the number
arrived at by tabulating those reported, correction will be made by retroactive billing
for any attachments identified as being responsible for the difference, and any
remaining difference will be spread evenly over the years since the last inventory, and
billing adjusted accordingly.
ARTICLE XIII
PERIODICAL ADJUSTMENT OF RENTALS
For the year ending 2018 and at intervals of not less than every five (5) years thereafter,
the rental rates applicable under this Agreement shall be subject to joint review and
revision upon the written request of either Party. Such written request shall be made at
least 90 days prior to January 1 of the year the new rental rates will be effective. If any
such request is made, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to reach a mutually
satisfactory rental rate, taking into consideration the allocation of space and the historical
cost of bare Poles.
ARTICLE XIV
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
A. If either Party hereto had, prior to the execution of this Agreement, conferred upon
Third Parties, by contract or otherwise, rights or privileges to occupy any Poles
covered by this Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be construed as affecting
such existing rights and privileges.
B. Following the Effective Date of this Agreement, an Owner shall have the right, by
contract or otherwise, to grant permission to Third Parties to occupy Poles covered by
this Agreement. To the extent allowed by law, such future Attachments shall not be
located within the Allocated Space of the other joint use Party unless that other Party
agrees in writing to such occupancy, and such agreement, if any, shall in no way
waive that other Party's right to occupy its Allocated Space in the future as long as
that Party has Reserved the space subject to all other provisions of this Agreement,
including Article XII, Rentals.
C. With respect to any rights and privileges granted under this Article to Third Parties,
Licensee shall not have to Transfer or Rearrange its Attachments to provide space for
a Third Party until the Third Party pays for Licensee's associated costs so long as
Licensee's Attachments have been made in accordance with terms of this Agreement.
The Third Party shall be given 30 days to make payment for costs of Rearrangements
to Licensee, and upon receipt of said payment, Licensee will, within 30 days, make
all necessary changes to accommodate the Third Party facilities.
ARTICLE XV
ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Party shall assign or otherwise
dispose of this Agreement or any of its rights, obligations or interests hereunder, to any
firm, corporation, individual, or other entity, without the written consent of the other
Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Provided, however, that
nothing herein contained shall prevent or limit the right of either Party to mortgage any or
all of its property, rights, privileges and franchises, or to lease or transfer any of them to
another corporation organized for the purpose of conducting a business of the same
general character as that of such Party, or to enter into any merger or consolidation; and,
in case of the foreclosure of such mortgage or in case of such lease, transfer, merger or
consolidation, such Party shall cause its rights and obligations hereunder to pass to, and
be acquired and assumed by, the purchaser on foreclosure, the transferee, lessee,
assignee, merging or consolidating company, as the case may be and such Party shall
give notice of the event to the other party not later than the effective date of such lease,
transfer, merger or consolidation.
ARTICLE XVI
FORCE MAJEURE
Deadlines for completing work and providing notice under this Agreement shall be
suspended for a reasonable period upon the occurrence of a Force Majeure event. These
Force Majeure events include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Hurricanes or other severe weather conditions;
2. Act of war, terrorism, or civil unrest;
3. Federal embargos, priority orders, or other restrictions imposed by the
federal government; and
4. Strikes or labor stoppages.
ARTICLE XVII
PAYMENT OF TAXES
Each Party shall pay all taxes and assessments lawfully levied on its property upon said
Joint Use Poles, and the taxes and assessments which are levied on said Joint Use Poles
shall be paid by the respective owners thereof.
ARTICLE XVIII
INSURANCE
Each party to this Agreement shall take out and maintain throughout the period during
which this Agreement shall remain in effect the following minimum insurance:
A. Workers' compensation insurance covering all of the Party's employees, as required
by law.
B. Public liability and property damage liability insurance covering all operations under
this Agreement with limits of at least $1,000,000 for bodily injury or death and
$1,000,000 aggregate coverage during the policy period. Failure to maintain the
required insurance coverage will not relieve a Party from liability provided for herein
should a loss occur. Similarly, if a loss for which a Party is liable exceeds the
insurance policy limits a Party will not be relieved from liability provided for herein.
The City of West Memphis is not required to carry liability insurance and property
damage insurance due to statutory tort immunity provided by A.C.A. 21-9-301.
C. Automobile liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 for personal or property
damage stemming from the use of all self-propelled vehicles used in connection with
this Agreement, whether owned, non-owned or hired. The City of West Memphis is
only required to maintain automobile liability insurance for the statutory minimum
coverage amount.
D. Each Party shall furnish to the other Party, upon request, a certificate evidencing
compliance with the foregoing requirements. This certificate will list the other Party
as additional insured and will note specific cancellation language as follows: "In the
event of cancellation of any of the said policies, the insuring company shall give the
party to whom this certificate is issued thirty (30) days prior notice of such
cancellation."
E. In lieu of paragraphs A-D above, the Parties may self-insure for the above-referenced
coverages. Licensee shall present valid proof of self-insurance upon Owner's
request.
ARTICLE XIX
INDEMNIFICATION
Each party to this Agreement shall, to the extent allowed by law, indemnify, protect,
save, defend and hold harmless the other party from and against any and all loss, cost,
damage, injury, claim, demand, action, suit, judgment, reasonable expenses, reasonable
attorney's fees and reasonable court costs, including, but not limited to, any and all
claims for damages to property and injury to or death of persons and claims made under
any Workers' Compensation Law, caused by, or arising out of, the sole negligence or
intentional acts/omissions of the indemnifying Party, its employees, contractors or agents.
If the indemnifying party is obligated to defend the indemnitee in a legal proceeding, the
indemnitee may choose its own counsel, provided that the fees charged by such counsel
are reasonable in the venue where the incident occurred. Nothing in this Article should be
considered as a waiver of any statutory tort immunity to which the City of West Memphis
may be entitled.
ARTICLE XX
BILLS AND PAYMENT
A. Upon completion of any work done by one Party for which payment is due from the
other Party, the Party performing the work shall present to the other Party, within
ninety (90) days after the completion of the work, a bill showing the amount due and
a breakdown of the cost. The Parties will cooperate to ensure that both are provided
the necessary information to certify that said bills are correct.
B. If the owing Party disputes the bill or any portion thereof, it must do so through
electronic or written means within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof. Further, the
owing Party must pay any undisputed amount due. The disputed amount shall be
addressed through the Dispute Resolution process set forth in Article XXII.
C. Any amounts billed hereunder shall be due within forty-five (45) days of the date of
the invoice detailing the amount owed. Any undisputed amount not timely paid shall
accrue interest at the rate of 1.5% per month beginning forty-five (45) days after the
date of the invoice and continuing until paid. In case of any disputed amount, the
party disputing the amount owed shall timely pay the undisputed amount.
ARTICLE XXI
DEFAULTS
A. If either Party shall default on its obligations under this Agreement and such default
continues thirty (30) days after due notice thereof in writing by the other Party, the
Party not in default may suspend the rights of the defaulting Party to attach to
additional Joint Use Attachments by sending the defaulting Party written notice of the
suspension. If such default shall continue for a period of sixty (60) days from the
defaulting Parties receipt of notice of suspension, the Party not in default may
suspend the right of both Parties to attach to existing joint use poles of the other Party
by sending written notice to the defaulting Party. Any such suspension of the right of
both Parties to attach to existing Joint Use poles shall not suspend the right of either
Party to maintain existing Attachments on existing Joint Use Poles.
B. In the event either party disputes the existence of a default, the suspension provisions
of paragraph "A" above, shall apply, and both Parties agree to employ the dispute
resolution procedures set forth in Article XXII of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XXII
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
A. Prior to the initiation of any litigation, the Parties shall in "good faith" attempt to settle
any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement through escalation to upper
management. "Good faith" participation in any dispute procedures shall be a
condition precedent to any litigation. Upon written notice that all subsequent
discussions and negotiations between the Parties are intended to be an effort to
compromise and settle matters between the Parties, all subsequent discussions,
meetings, and negotiations pursuant to this Article shall be confidential and shall be
treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of the Federal Rules
of Evidence and the State of Arkansas's rules of evidence.
B. Enforcement. The Parties regard the aforesaid obligation to escalate matters in
controversy to upper management as an essential and material provision of this
Agreement and one that is legally binding upon them. In case of a violation of such
obligation by either Party, the other may seek specific enforcement of such obligation
in the courts having jurisdiction hereunder.
ARTICLE XXIII
INTERPRETATION AND JURISDICTION
This Agreement shall be interpreted under applicable federal and state laws and shall be
construed in its entirety according to its plain meaning. Any action relating to this
Agreement or arising out of its terms and conditions shall be instituted and litigated in
Crittenden County Arkansas State Court.
ARTICLE XXIV
WAIVER OF TERMS OR CONDITIONS
The failure of either Party to enforce or insist upon compliance with any of the terms or
conditions of this Agreement shall not constitute a general waiver or relinquishment of
any such terms or conditions, but the same shall be and remain at all times in full force
and effect.
ARTICLE XXV
NO JOINT VENTURE
It is agreed by and between the Parties that none of the obligations and undertakings
herein creates a partnership or joint venture between the Electric Company and the
Telephone Company.
ARTICLE XXVI
NOTICES
A. Whenever notice is required to be given under the provisions of Articles XIII
(Periodical Adjustment of Rates & Costs), XV (Assignment of Rights), XVIII
(Insurance), XIX (Liability), XXI (Defaults), XXII (Dispute Resolution), XXVII
(Term of Agreement), or paragraph (c) of this Article XXVI (for change of
addresses), such notice shall be in writing, sent certified or registered mail, return
receipt required or by a carrier providing proof of delivery, and shall be sent to the
following addresses:
The Electric Company
Official/Legal Notices:
General Manager
West Memphis Utility Commission
604 East Cooper
West Memphis, AR 72303
Phone Number 870-735-3355
The Telephone Company:
Operational Notices:
Kevin Varner, Area Manager Engineering
AT&T Arkansas
220 Prospect, Rm. 400
Hot Springs, AR 71901
501-321-3200
Official/Legal Notices:
AT&T Legal Department
Attn: Larry Jones, General Attorney
208 S. Akard St, Room 3001
Dallas, Texas 75202
B. Any other notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be given by mail,
facsimile to the above addresses, or by electronic means using the National Joint Use
Notification System.
C. Either Party may change the address for notice pursuant to paragraph (a) above by
written notice to the other Party.
ARTICLE XXVII
TERM OF AGREEMENT
Subject to Article XXI, Defaults, this Agreement shall remain in effect for five (5) years
from the date hereof, unless either Party terminates the rights of the Parties to attach to
additional Joint Use Poles or to existing Joint Use Poles by providing at least one year's
written notice prior to the end of the five (5) year term. Termination of the rights of the
Parties to attach to additional Joint Use Poles or existing joint use poles, by any means,
shall not abrogate or terminate the right of either Party, subject to all the terms and
conditions of this Agreement to maintain existing Attachments. All such Attachments
shall continue to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect, so long as the Attachments are continued in use, solely for the
purpose of governing and controlling the rights and obligations of the Parties with respect
to such Attachments, including, but not limited to, the rights and obligations of the
Parties with respect to charges related to such Attachments.
ARTICLE XXVIII
EFFECTIVE DATE AND PRE-EXISTING AGREEMENTS
This Agreement shall supersede any prior agreements entered by and between the Parties
for Joint Use Poles within the territory covered by this Agreement. Nevertheless, with
regard to Poles existing prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Owner shall not
be required to replace any such Poles with a Standard Joint Use Pole as defined in Article
II(U) of this Agreement unless the Licensee pays all reasonable costs of Replacement and
all costs of Transfers or modifications relating to such Replacement as provided for in
this Agreement.
ARTICLE XXIX
SUPPLEMENTAL ROUTINES AND PRACTICES
Nothing in the foregoing shall preclude the Parties to this Agreement from preparing such
supplemental agreements, operating routines or working practices as they mutually agree,
in writing, to be necessary or desirable to effectively administer the provisions of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE XXX
CHANGE OF LAW
In the event that any legislative, regulatory, judicial, or other action which would
materially affect any of the terms of this Agreement becomes effective, then either Party
may, upon thirty (30) days written notice, require that such terms be renegotiated, and the
Parties expressly agree that they shall renegotiate in good faith such mutually agreeable
new terms. In the event that the Parties are unable to agree upon such new terms within a
reasonable time period, then either Party may file an action with a court of competent
jurisdiction seeking appropriate relief.
ARTICLE XXXI
MISCELLANEOUS
A. This Agreement was prepared jointly by the Parties and not by one Party to the
exclusion of the other Party.
B. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and
executed by both Parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto, have caused this Agreement to be executed
in duplicate, and their corporate seals to be affixed thereto by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized as of the effective date of this Agreement.
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
d/b/a AT&T , f.nsa•
Title: p"-ctor-Construction & Engineering
Date: •ecember 12, 2013
City of West Memphis
By: i<<
Title: /'7m
Date:
�'', ,2.1.
EXHIBIT A
APPLICATION AND LICENSE
City of West Memphis Arkansas
[Date]
General Manager
West Memphis Utility Commission
604 East Cooper
West Memphis, AR 72303
Phone Number 870-735-3355
Or
Manager ROW and JUP
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Arkansas
220 Prospect
Room 400
Hot Springs, AR 71901
In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement dated
application is hereby made for license to make attachments to the following poles:
Pole No. Pole Location Date of Attachment
LICENSEE
By
Title:
Name of Company
License granted , 20 .
OWNER
By:
Title:
Name of Company:
. °
EXHIBIT B
State of Arkansas
County of Crittenden
Preparer's name and address:
Easement
For and in consideration of dollars ($ ) and other good
and valuable consideration, the adequacy and receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
undersigned Owner(s) of the premises described below, hereinafter referred to as Grantor, do(es)
hereby grant to
its licensees, agents, successors, assigns, and allied and associated companies, hereinafter referred
to as Grantee, an easement to ooumtroct, operutc, mnu)otaio, add, and/or remove such systems of
communications or electric power transmission or distribution, facilities, stand by generators and
associated fuel supply systems as a means of providing uninterrupted service during power
outages, or related services as the Grantee may from time to time require opoo, over, and under a
portion of the lands described in Deed Book , page , Crittenden
County, Arkansas Records, and, to the fullest extent the Grantor has the power to grant, upon,
over, along, and under the roads, streets, or highways adjoining or through said property. The said
easement is more particularly described as follows:
All that tract or parcel of land lying in Section , City
. Range ,West Memphis County, State of
Arkansas,consisting of a(strip)(parcel) of Land
The following rights are also granted: the exclusive right to allow any other pemon, firm, or
corporation to attach wires or lay cable or conduit or other appurtenances upon, over and under
said easement for communications or electric power transmission or distribution; ingress to and
egress from said easement at all times; the right, but not the obligation, to clear the easement and
keep it cleared of all trees, undergrowth, or other obstructions; the right, but not the obligation, to
trim and cut and keep trimmed and cut all dead, weak, \euning, or dangerous trees or limbs
outside the easement which might interfere with or fall upon the line or systems or power
transmission or distribution; the right to relocate said facilities, xyotcnnx, or related services on
said lands to conform to any future highway relocation, widening, or improvements; the right to
conduct site evaluations and/or other above and below ground tests and surveys deemed
necessary by Grantee, the right to test and maintain generators and associated equipment; and the
right to allow any other person, firm, or corporation to provide for fuel/energy distribution to
equipment placed on the site.
To have and to hold the above granted easement unto its licensees,
agents, successors, assigns, and allied and associated companies forever and in perpetuity.
•
Grantor warrants that Grantor is the true Owner of the above-described land on which the
aforesaid easement is granted.
SPECIAL STIPULATION OR COMMENTS:
The following special stipulations shall control in the event of conflict with any of the foregoing
easement:
In witness whereof, the undersigned has/have caused this instrument to be executed on the
day of
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of:
Witness Print Name of Grantor
By:
Witness Title:
State of Arkansas,County of
I, , do hereby certify that
personally came before me this day and executed the forgoing instrument. If the Grantor is a
business entity, he (or she) has represented to me that he (or she) is (print
title) of (print name of business entity), and that he
(or she) is authorized to sign this instrument on behalf of the Grantor.
Witness my hand and seal,this day of ,
My Commission Expires:
Notary Public
Grantor's Address Grantee's Address: