NORWAY — The Norway City Council has authorized City Manager Dan Stoltman to sign a letter of intent for Charter Communications to potentially purchase the city’s communications system for $5 million.

Discussions about the possible sale of the system have been ongoing for the past year.

Stoltman asked: Does the city even need to be in the business of operating a cable, internet and phone company? Can it provide customers with the service they deserve? Can the city keep up with new technology and effectively implement or compete with it? If one or more companies decide to overbuild the city with cable, internet and phone offerings that provide better performance at lower prices, can Norway’s system survive?

Stoltman noted that upgrading the system would force the city to take on more debt, requiring higher rates that could drive away customers, leaving the city unable to pay that debt.

Charter Communications officials were at Wednesday’s council meeting in person and via Zoom to answer any questions and describe what would be involved with the sale and transition process.

Dana Pendergrass of Charter Communications assured the council the city’s customers would be in good hands. Pendergrass stated that there are already 40 to 45 service technicians that work in the Iron Mountain area and Charter is often able to provide same-day service with a one-hour service window.

“Our response times are very, very quick because we know people depend on their internet services for their life and work,” Pendergrass said.

Signing the letter of intent is nonbinding and the council would need to approve the final sale of the communication system.

In other business, the council:

— Approved extending the real and personal property tax payment deadline to Feb. 29. Tax bills sent out Dec. 1 had payment due on or before Feb. 15, with a 3% penalty due on payments received from Feb. 15 to Feb. 29. The city has traditionally waived this penalty and extended the deadline to the last day of February. Payments received on or after March 1 will incur a 4% penalty.

– Will continue its current meeting schedule for 2024. Meetings will be at 6 p.m., generally the first and third Wednesdays for January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December. Meetings in May, June, July and August will generally be held on the first and third Mondays at 7 p.m.