The Pella City Council will hold a special meeting Monday to determine if they’d like to schedule a special city election for a potential municipal telecommunications utility.

The council will consider May 1st as a day that voters could authorize the city to move forward with developing a potential internet utility in the community. According to city staff, a study is ongoing that is researching the best method to establish a potential city-run service. The need for a municipal telecommunications utility is being driven by concerns expressed by citizens and businesses regarding access to high-speed internet, many of whom feel they aren’t receiving adequate service from private industry. City staff believes a municipal telecommunications utility could help meet the long-term high-speed access needs of the community.

The special Pella City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. today in the Public Safety Complex on Liberty Street.