By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer
City administrators are looking into the feasibility of connecting all the municipal buildings with a fiber optic network. Currently, many of the city’s buildings are linked only by internet connection. The installation linking all would not only make for a more cohesive, faster network citywide, but also cut down costs and bring the city into a higher level, technologically speaking. The idea was spurred on by the new City Hall project and would be made possible through the current fiber optic cabling that has been installed when the city’s 911 emergency dispatch recently was combined with Strongsville’s service. The city would continue the cable to attach the new City Hall. Currently the cable runs from Strongsville, down Rt. 82, to the police and fire stations.
According to North Royalton Economic Development Director Tom Jordan, the Service Department could easily tie in, as it sits right on Rt. 82. Jordan said that discussions have taken place about upgrading technology in the city for some time. The City Hall move makes the timing right. When all is said and done, the citywide network would include City Hall, the two Fire Stations, the Police Station, two Wastewater Plants, Service Department, Office on Aging, Recreation/Cemetery Department and the North Royalton Animal Shelter.
The fiber optic cabling will tie all municipal buildings into one city-owned network, which will support the city’s phone system and Internet connectivity. Currently, the line speed at any given time is dependent upon usage, as the city utilizes an Internet Provider. With the fiber optic network, line speed will be faster and more consistent.
Offering Wi-Fi in parts of the city is also being explored. Internet “hot spots” could be offered in areas around each municipal building. These “hot spots” would allow the public to access the Internet on their smart phones, laptops and tablets, by accessing a wireless connection with a certain area around each server. Servers would be located in each municipal building, which could allow users to remotely access the internet within a certain distance from that server. Other areas that the city is currently exploring are Heasley Fields area and the York Road Fields area.
“At the end of the day, we’ll have to determine if it’s worth it, as it will come at a cost,” said Stefanik. The up-front cost is still being determined, but the city expects to pay for the network in cost savings from the current phone system charges. Jordan said that the funding is available to do the project this year. They are presently trying to determine the cost/benefit ratio and nailing down the details before they submit the plan for Council’s approval. “My focus is City Hall,” said Jordan. “Then everything else is secondary.”