Gary Nowak

ROGERS CITY — The Rogers City City Council’s budget hearing today was sidetracked by a heated discussion over a franchise fee paid by Charter Communications customers.

Mayor Scott McLennan said residents who receive television or internet service from Charter pay a 3% franchise fee on their monthly bill. The city receives the money from Charter and the city’s Department of Public Works keeps Charter’s infrastructure accessible by plowing and other means.

Councilman Gary Nowak has asked the council to discuss the fee several times over the last year. McLennan had previously promised Nowak they would discuss the fee at budget time.

Nowak insisted that the fee was supposed to go toward a government access channel that would broadcast City Council meetings. Since the channel was never created, people shouldn’t have to pay the fee, he argued.

McLennan and City Manager Joe Hefele said no such fee exists.

“The franchise fee is there because there is cable along poles that we need to maintain and plow the right-of-way so the cable company can get at its infrastructure,” Hefele began, but was interrupted by Nowak.

“Just a minute, you have told me that story several times,” Nowak said. He then used an expletive to say he didn’t believe Hefele.

“That’s the law,” Hefele replied.

“And I don’t like what you keep telling me,” Nowak said.

McLennan interjected and requested only one person talk at a time, because the meeting was broadcast on videoconferencing software Zoom.

Nowak made a motion to discontinue the 3% franchise fee starting July 1, but no other councilman supported his motion. When the motion died, Nowak became upset.

“You guys don’t even have the balls to stick up for the citizens of Rogers City who elected you,” Nowak said. “You shouldn’t be there. All you want to do is tax them.”

“I did not vote with you just because of the fact the way I understand it seems to be completely opposite of the way you’re understanding it,” Councilman Larry Fuhrman said. “I apologize, but don’t throw me under the bus like that.”

Nowak told Fuhrman he had to because the city was taking money from people who don’t get anything for it.

Nowak then left the electronic meeting at 1:54 p.m., before the council took action on the city’s nearly $1.8 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Reached after the meeting, Nowak said he was “really hot” and it’s going to take a couple of weeks for him to cool down.

Nowak said he wants to get rid of the fee and was “disappointed” in his fellow councilmen and that they need to get in tune with the people they represent.

Reached after the meeting, McLennan apologized about the language that was used during the meeting, and said several residents had complained to him about Nowak’s behavior.

“We can’t have that going forward,” McLennan said.