Skittishness in "Mayberry"

The news is unsettling this morning after the Charlestown City Council tabled its motion to join in and issue bonds for a universal wireless broadband public-private partnership.

Timing may in fact be critical on this matter. Although we don't yet know the full scope of the bill before the legislature which would preempt municipalities from creating universal broadband service availability under their statutory public utility powers, the delay is troubling.

One citizen was quoted as saying, "We're running our city like Mayberry." Except there's no calm and reasoned Sheriff Andy Taylor at the helm.

Now, a final vote is delayed until February.

The Evening News's Greg Gapsis has been following this story closely, but space limitations prevented our local paper from giving the story. Rumor has it, though, that The Evening News will have a comprehensive story on all these issues in Saturday's editions, available here at the store or online at http://www.news-tribune.net/.

In the absence of local coverage, read more in Alex Davis's report in The Courier-Journal or online at Charlestown delays vote on Internet deal; financing risks eyed.