AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO MCIMETRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, D/B/A VERIZON ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES, A CONTRACT FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF STAFFORD, KANSAS, AND PRESCRIBING THE TERMS OF SAID CONTRACT FRANCHISE.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF STAFFORD, KANSAS:

SECTION 1.          DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Ordinance the following words and phrases shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent within the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense and words in the single number include the plural number. The word “shall” is always mandatory, and not merely directory.

a.     “Access Line” - shall mean and be limited to retail billed and collected residential lines; business lines; ISDN lines; PBX trunks and simulated exchange access lines provided by a central office based switching arrangement where all stations served by such simulated exchange access lines are used by a single customer of the provider of such arrangement. Access Line may not be construed to include interoffice transport or other transmission media that do not terminate at an end user customer’s premises, or to permit duplicate or multiple assessment of Access Line rates on the provision of a single service or on the multiple communications paths derived from a billed and collected Access Line. Access Line shall not include the following: Wireless telecommunications services, the sale or lease of unbundled loop facilities, special access services, lines providing only data services without voice services processed by a Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider or private line service arrangements.

b.    “Access Line Count” - means the number of Access Lines serving consumers within the corporate boundaries of the City on the last day of each month.

c.     “Access Line Fee” - means a fee determined by the City, up to a maximum as set out in K.S.A. 12- 2001(c)(3), and amendments thereto, to be used by Grantee in calculating the amount of Access Line Remittance.

d.    “Access Line Remittance” - means the amount to be paid by Grantee to City, the total of which is calculated by multiplying the Access Line Fee, as determined in the City, by the number of Access Lines served by Grantee within the City for each month in that calendar quarter.

e.     “City” - means the City of Stafford, Kansas.

f.     “Contract Franchise” - means this Ordinance granting the right, privilege and franchise to Grantee to use the City’s Public Right-of-Way to provide Telecommunications Services within the City.

g.    “Facilities” - means the Grantee’s telephone and telecommunications lines, conduits, manholes, ducts, wires, cables, pipes, poles, towers, vaults, appliances, optic fiber, and all equipment comprising the Grantee’s system located within the Public Right-of-Way, designed and constructed for the purpose of providing Telecommunications Services.

h.    “Grantee” - means MCImetro Access Transmission Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, d/b/a Verizon Access Transmission Services, authorized to do business in Kansas, as a provider of Telecommunications Services within the City. References to Grantee shall also include, as appropriate, any and all successors and assigns.

i.     “Gross Receipts” - means only those receipts collected from within the corporate boundaries of the City and which are derived from the following: (1) Recurring Local Exchange Service for business and residence which includes basic exchange service, touch tone, optional calling features and measured local calls; (2) Recurring local exchange Access Line services for pay phone lines provided by Grantee to all pay phone service providers; (3) Local directory assistance revenue; (4) Line status verification/busy interrupt revenue; (5) Local operator assistance revenue; and (6) Nonrecurring Local Exchange Service revenue which shall include customer service for installation of lines, reconnection of service and charge for duplicate bills. All other revenues, including, but not limited to, revenues from extended area service, the sale or lease of unbundled network elements, non-regulated services, carrier and end user access, long distance, wireless telecommunications services, lines providing only data service without voice services processed by a Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider, private line service arrangements, internet, broadband, and all other services not wholly local in nature are excluded from Gross Receipts. Gross Receipts shall be reduced by bad debt expenses. Uncollectible and late charges shall not be included within Gross Receipts. If Grantee offers additional services of a wholly local nature which if in existence on or before July 1, 2002, would have been included with the definition of Gross Receipts, such services shall be included from the date of the offering of such services within the City.

j.     “Local Exchange Service” - means local switched telecommunications service within any local exchange service area approved by the state corporation commission, regardless of the medium by which the local telecommunications service is provided. The term Local Exchange Service shall not include wireless communication services.

k.    “Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider” means a local exchange carrier as defined in subsection (h) of K.S.A. 66-1,187, and amendments thereto, and a telecommunications carrier as defined in subsection (m) of K.S.A. 66-1,187, and amendments thereto, which does, or in good faith intends to, provide Local Exchange Service. The term Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider does not include an interexchange carrier that does not provide Local Exchange Service, competitive access provider that does not provide Local Exchange Service or any wireless telecommunications local exchange service provider.

l.     “Public Right-of-Way” - means only the area of real property in which the City has a dedicated or acquired right-of-way interest in the real property. It shall include the area on, below or above the present and future streets, alleys, avenues, roads, highways, parkways or boulevards dedicated or acquired as right-of-way. The term does not include the airwaves above the right-of-way with regard to wireless telecommunications or other non-wire telecommunications or broadcast service, easements obtained by utilities, or private easements in platted subdivisions or tracts, and does not include infrastructure located within the Public Rights-of-Way owned by the City or other third-parties, such as poles, ducts or conduits, use of which shall require a separate license agreement for attachment to City facilities.

m.   “Telecommunications Services” - means providing the means of transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received, as described in K.S.A. 17-1902(a)(3) and amendments thereto. For purposes of this Contract Franchise, the term Telecommunications Services shall not include the provision of Wireless Services as a Wireless Services Provider.

n.    “Wireless Infrastructure Provider” – means any person that builds or installs transmission equipment, wireless facilities or wireless support structures, but that is not a Wireless Services Provider, as described in K.S.A. 66-2019(b)(20).

o.    “Wireless Services” - means “personal wireless services” and “personal wireless service facilities” as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(C), including commercial mobile services as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332(d), provided to personal mobile communication devices through wireless facilities or any fixed or mobile wireless services provided using wireless facilities, as described in K.S.A. 66-2019(b)(19).

p.    “Wireless Services Provider” - means a provider of Wireless Services, as described in K.S.A. 66-2019(b)(24).

SECTION 2.          GRANT OF CONTRACT FRANCHISE.

a.     There is hereby granted to Grantee this nonexclusive Contract Franchise to construct, maintain, extend and operate its Facilities along, across, upon or under any Public Right-of-Way for the purpose of supplying Telecommunications Services within the corporate boundaries of the City, for the term of this Contract Franchise, subject to the terms and conditions of this Contract Franchise. In addition, Grantee is granted the right to lease its Facilities in whole or in part to affiliates or third parties, provided that Grantee maintains ownership of such Facilities; and further provided, that such lessee shall have its own Contract Franchise with the City if required by applicable law.

b.    The grant of this Contract Franchise by the City shall not convey title, equitable or legal, in the Public Right-of-Way, and shall give only the right to occupy the Public Right-of-Way, for the purposes and for the period stated in this Contract Franchise. This Contract Franchise does not:

(1)   Grant the right to use Facilities or any other property, telecommunications related or otherwise, owned or controlled by the City or a third-party, without the consent of such party;

(2)   Grant the authority to construct, maintain or operate any Facility or related appurtenance on property owned by the City outside of the Public Right-of-Way, specifically including, but not limited to, parkland property, City Hall property or public works facility property; or

(3)   Excuse Grantee from obtaining appropriate access or attachment agreements before locating its Facilities on the facilities owned or controlled by the City or a third-party.

c.     As a condition of this grant, Grantee is required to obtain and is responsible for any necessary permit, license, certification, grant, registration or any other authorization required by any appropriate governmental entity, including, but not limited to, the City, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Grantee shall also comply with all applicable laws, statutes and/or City regulations (including, but not limited to those relating to the construction and use of the Public Right-of-Way or other public or private property).

d.    Grantee shall not provide any additional services for which a franchise is required by the City, including but not limited to services as a Wireless Services Provider, Wireless Infrastructure Provider, cable television provider, or video services provider, without first obtaining a separate franchise from the City or amending this Contract Franchise, and Grantee shall not knowingly allow the use of its Facilities by any third party in violation of any federal, state or local law. In particular, this Contract Franchise does not provide Grantee the right to provide cable service as a cable operator (as defined by 47 U.S.C. § 522(5)) within the City. Grantee agrees that this franchise does not permit it to operate an open video system without payment of fees permitted by 47 U.S.C. § 573(c)(2)(B) and without complying with FCC regulations promulgated pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 573. Grantee is permitted to provide wireline-based cell site front- and back-haul transport services using its Facilities.

e.     This authority to occupy the Public Right-of-Way shall be granted in a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis and not in conflict with state or federal law.

SECTION 3.          USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.

a.     Pursuant to K.S.A. 17-1902 and 12-2001, and amendments thereto, and subject to the provisions of this Contract Franchise, Grantee shall have the right to construct, maintain and operate its Facilities along, across, upon and under the Public Right-of-Way. Such Facilities shall be so constructed and maintained as not to obstruct or hinder the usual travel or public safety on such public ways or obstruct the legal use of such other public ways by other utilities.

b.    Grantee’s use of the Public Right-of-Way shall always be subject and subordinate to the reasonable public health, safety and welfare requirements and regulations of the City. The City may exercise its home rule powers in its administration and regulation related to the management of the Public Right-of-Way; provided that any such exercise must be competitively neutral and may not be unreasonable or discriminatory. Grantee shall be subject to all applicable laws and statutes, and/or rules, regulations, policies, resolutions and ordinances (hereinafter “Laws”) adopted by the City, relating to the construction and use of the Public Right-of-Way, including, but not limited to the City’s ordinances and regulations regarding the use of the Public Right-of-Way, and the City’s zoning and land use ordinances, to the extent such laws do not conflict with or are preempted by any Federal law or regulation.

c.     Grantee shall participate in the Kansas One Call utility location program.

SECTION 4.          COMPENSATION TO THE CITY.

a.     In consideration of this Contract Franchise, Grantee agrees to remit to the City a franchise fee of $3,000.00 annually. The fee shall increase annually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) but not to exceed five (5%) percent. Provided, that in the event Grantee should, or in good faith intends to, provide Local Exchange Service, then the franchise fee shall be modified in compliance with K.S.A 12-2001(j), the terms of which shall be established by separate ordinance to become effective for the calendar year following notice from Grantee to the City.

b.    Grantee shall pay on an annual basis without requirement for invoice or reminder from the City, and by January 31st of each year. If any franchise fee, or any portion thereof, is not postmarked or delivered on or before January 31st, interest thereon shall accrue from the due date until received, at the applicable statutory interest rate.

c.     No acceptance by the City, nor payment by Grantee, of any franchise fee shall be construed as an accord that the amount paid is in fact the correct amount, nor shall acceptance, or payment, of any franchise fee payment be construed as a release of any claim of the City, or Grantee, respectively. Any dispute concerning the amount due under this Section shall be resolved in the manner set forth in K.S.A. 12-2001, and amendments thereto.  

d.    Unless previously paid, within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date of this Contract Franchise, Grantee shall pay to the City a one-time application fee of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). The parties agree that such fee reimburses the City for its reasonable, actual and verifiable costs of reviewing and approving this Contract Franchise.

e.     The franchise fee required herein shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, all taxes, charges, assessments, licenses, fees and impositions otherwise applicable that are or may be imposed by the City under K.S.A. 12-2001 and/or 17-1902, and amendments thereto. The franchise fee is compensation for use of the Public Right-of-Way and shall in no way be deemed a tax of any kind.

f.     Pursuant to K.S.A. 12-2001(n), the City is hereby exercising its option to require Grantee to collect and remit an Access Line (franchise) Fee or Gross Receipts (franchise) fee to the City on those Access Lines resold to another Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider. If applicable, Grantee shall remit an Access Line (franchise) Fee or a Gross Receipts (franchise) fee to the City on those Access Lines that have been resold to another Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider, but in such case the City shall not collect a franchise fee from the reseller service provider and shall not require the reseller service provider to enter a contract franchise ordinance. Such Access Line (franchise) Fee or Gross Receipts (franchise) fee shall be in the same amount or percentage as the franchise fee set forth in subsection 4.a. hereinabove. Grantee shall notify the City in writing within seven (7) business days after the completion of any agreement or other transaction through which Grantee agrees to allow another Telecommunications Local Exchange Service Provider to resell Grantee’s services.

SECTION 5.          INDEMNITY AND HOLD HARMLESS.

a.     It shall be the responsibility of Grantee to take adequate measures to protect and defend its Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way from harm or damage. If Grantee fails to accurately or timely locate Facilities when requested, in accordance with the Kansas Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act, K.S.A. 66-1801 et seq., it has no claim for costs or damages against the City and its authorized contractors unless such parties are responsible for the harm or damage caused by their gross negligence or intentional conduct. The City and its authorized contractors shall be responsible to take reasonable precautionary measures including calling for utility locations and observing marker posts when working near Grantee’s Facilities.

b.    Grantee shall indemnify and hold the City and its officers and employees harmless against any and all claims, lawsuits, judgments, costs, liens, losses, expenses, fees (including reasonable attorney fees and costs of defense), proceedings, actions, demands, causes of action, liability and suits of any kind and nature, including personal or bodily injury (including death), property damage or other harm for which recovery of damages is sought, to the degree that it is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be caused by the negligence, gross negligence or wrongful act of Grantee, any agent, officer, director, representative, employee, affiliate or subcontractor of Grantee, or its respective officers, agents, employees, directors or representatives, while installing, repairing or maintaining Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way.

c.     The indemnity provided by this Section does not apply to any liability to the extent such liability results from the negligence of the City, its officers, employees, contractors or subcontractors. If Grantee and the City are found jointly liable by a court of competent jurisdiction, liability shall be apportioned comparatively in accordance with the laws of this state without, however, waiving any governmental immunity available to the City under state law and without waiving any defenses of the parties under state or federal law. This section is solely for the benefit of the City and Grantee and does not create or grant any rights, contractual or otherwise, to any other person or entity.

d.    Grantee or City shall promptly advise the other in writing of any known claim or demand against Grantee or the City related to or arising out of Grantee’s activities in the Public Right-of-Way.

SECTION 6.          INSURANCE REQUIREMENT AND PERFORMANCE BOND.

a.     During the term of this Contract Franchise, Grantee shall obtain and maintain insurance coverage at its sole expense, with financially reputable insurers that are licensed, authorized, or permitted to do business in the State of Kansas. Grantee shall provide the following insurance:

(1)   Workers’ compensation as provided for under any worker’s compensation or similar law in the jurisdiction where any work is performed with an employers’ liability limit of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) each accident/disease/policy limit.

(2)   Commercial general liability, including coverage for contractual liability, personal and advertising injury and product/completed operations liability on an occurrence basis and not a claims-made basis, with a limit of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) per occurrence for bodily injury (including death) and property damage and Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) general aggregate. The City shall be included as an additional insured as their interest may appear under this Contract Franchise with respect to liability arising from Grantee’s operations under this Contract Franchise.

b.    Grantee shall, as a material condition of this Contract Franchise, prior to the commencement of any work and within fifteen (15) days of any renewal thereof, deliver to the City a certificate of insurance reasonably satisfactory in form and content evidencing that the above insurance is in force. Grantee will provide notice the city with thirty (30) days prior written notice of any insurance cancellation.

c.     Grantee shall, as a material condition of this Contract Franchise, prior to the commencement of any work and prior to any renewal thereof, deliver to the City a performance bond in the amount of $10,000.00, payable to the City to ensure the appropriate and timely performance in the construction and maintenance of Facilities located in the Public Right-of-Way. The required performance bond must be with good and sufficient sureties, issued by a surety company authorized to transact business in the State of Kansas, and satisfactory to the City in form and substance.

SECTION 7.          REVOCATION AND TERMINATION.

In case of failure on the part of Grantee to comply with any of the provisions of this Contract Franchise, or if Grantee should do or cause to be done any act or thing prohibited by or in violation of the terms of this Contract Franchise, Grantee shall forfeit all rights, privileges and franchise granted herein, and all such rights, privileges and franchise hereunder shall cease, terminate and become null and void, and this Contract Franchise shall be deemed revoked or terminated, provided that said revocation or termination, shall not take effect until the City has completed the following procedures:

a.     Before the City proceeds to revoke and terminate this Contract Franchise, it shall first serve a written notice upon Grantee, setting forth in detail the neglect or failure complained of, and Grantee shall have sixty (60) days thereafter in which to comply with the conditions and requirements of this Contract Franchise.

b.    If at the end of such sixty (60) day period the City deems that the conditions have not been complied with, the City shall take action to revoke and terminate this Contract Franchise by an affirmative vote of the governing body of the City present at the meeting and voting, setting out the grounds upon which this Contract Franchise is to be revoked and terminated; provided, to afford Grantee due process, Grantee shall first be provided reasonable notice of the date, time and location of the governing body’s consideration, and shall have the right to address the governing body regarding such matter.

c.     Upon any determination by the City Commission to revoke and terminate this Contract Franchise, Grantee shall have thirty (30) days to appeal such decision to the District Court of Stafford County, Kansas. This Contract Franchise shall be deemed revoked and terminated at the end of this thirty (30) day period, unless Grantee has instituted such an appeal. If Grantee does timely institute such an appeal, such revocation and termination shall remain pending and subject to the court’s final judgment. Provided, however, that the failure of Grantee to comply with any of the provisions of this Contract Franchise or the doing or causing to be done by Grantee of anything prohibited by or in violation of the terms of this Contract Franchise shall not be a ground for the revocation or termination thereof when such act or omission on the part of Grantee is due to any cause or delay beyond the control of Grantee or to bona fide legal proceedings.

Nothing herein shall prevent the City from invoking any other remedy that may otherwise exist at law.

SECTION 8.          RESERVATION OF RIGHTS.

a.     The City specifically reserves its right and authority as a public entity with responsibilities towards its citizens, to participate to the full extent allowed by law in proceedings concerning Grantee’s rates and services to ensure the rendering of efficient Telecommunications Services and any other services at reasonable rates, and the maintenance of Grantee’s property in good repair.

b.    In granting its consent hereunder, the City does not in any manner waive its regulatory or other rights and powers under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Kansas as the same may be amended, or under the Constitution of the State of Kansas (including but not limited to the City’s “home rule” authority), nor any of its rights and powers under or by virtue of present or future ordinances of the City.

c.     In granting its consent hereunder, the Grantee does not in any manner waive its regulatory or other rights and powers under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Kansas as the same may be amended, or under the Constitution of the State of Kansas nor any of its rights and powers under or by virtue of present or future ordinances of the City.

d.    In entering into this Contract Franchise, neither the City’s nor Grantee’s present or future legal rights, positions, claims, assertions or arguments before any administrative agency or court of law are in any way prejudiced or waived. By entering into the Contract Franchise, neither the City nor Grantee waive any rights, but instead expressly reserve any and all rights, remedies, and arguments the City or Grantee may have at law or equity, without limitation, to argue, assert, and/or take any position as to the legality or appropriateness of any present or future laws, non-franchise ordinances and/or rulings.

SECTION 9.          FAILURE TO ENFORCE.

The failure of either the City or the Grantee to insist in any one or more instances upon the strict performance of any one or more of the terms or provisions of this Contract Franchise shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment for the future of any such term or provision, and the same shall continue in full force and effect. No waiver or relinquishment shall be deemed to have been made by the City or the Grantee unless said waiver or relinquishment is in writing and signed by both the City and the Grantee.

SECTION 10.        TERM AND TERMINATION DATE.

a.     This Contract Franchise shall be effective for a term beginning on the Effective Date (defined below) of this Contract Franchise and ending on that date which is ten (10) years thereafter.

b.    Upon written request of either the City or Grantee, this Contract Franchise shall be renegotiated at any time in accordance with the requirements of state law upon any of the following events: changes in federal, state, or local laws, regulations, or orders that materially affect any rights or obligations of either the City or Grantee, including but not limited to the scope of the Contract Franchise granted to Grantee or the compensation to be received by the City hereunder.

c.     Amendments under this Section, if any, shall be made by Contract Franchise ordinance as prescribed by statute. This Contract Franchise shall remain in effect according to its terms, pending completion of any review or renegotiation provided by this section.

d.    In the event the parties are actively negotiating in good faith a new Contract Franchise ordinance or an amendment to this Contract Franchise upon the termination date of this Contract Franchise, the parties by written mutual agreement may extend the termination date of this Contract Franchise to allow for further negotiations. Such extension period shall be deemed a continuation of this Contract Franchise and not as a new contract franchise ordinance or amendment.

SECTION 11.        POINT OF CONTACT AND NOTICES.

Grantee shall at all times maintain with the City a local point of contact who shall be available at all times to act on behalf of Grantee in the event of an emergency. Grantee shall provide the City with said local contact’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Emergency notice by Grantee to the City may be made by telephone to the City Administrator or the Public Works Director. All other notices between the parties shall be in writing and shall be made by personal delivery, depositing such notice in the U.S. Mail, or Certified Mail, return receipt requested. Any notice served by U.S. Mail or Certified Mail, return receipt requested, shall be deemed delivered five (5) calendar days after the date of such deposit in the U.S. Mail unless otherwise provided. “Business day” for purposes of this section shall mean Monday through Friday, City and/or Grantee observed holidays excepted.

To the City:                                               To Grantee:

City of Stafford, Kansas                             MCImetro Access Transmission Services LLC

112 W Broadway St                                   d/b/a Verizon Access Transmission Services,

Stafford, Kansas 67578-1404                      600 Hidden Ridge

Attn: City Clerk                                         Irving, TX 75038

                                                                 Attn: Franchise Manager

                                                                 With copy to (except for invoices)

                                                                 (which copy will not constitute notice):

                                                                 Verizon Legal Department

                                                                 Attn: Network Legal Team

                                                                 1300 I Street, NW

                                                                 5th Floor

                                                                 Washington, DC 20005

or to replacement addresses that may be later designated in writing.

SECTION 12.        TRANSFER AND ASSIGNMENT.

This Contract Franchise is granted solely to the Grantee and shall not be transferred or assigned without the prior written approval of the City; provided that such transfer or assignment may occur without written consent of the City to a wholly owned parent or subsidiary, or between wholly owned subsidiaries, or to an entity with which Grantee is under common ownership or control, upon written notice to the City. In the event of any transfer or assignment of either this Contract Franchise or Grantee’s business or assets, Grantee shall: timely notify the City of the successor entity; provide a point of contact for the successor entity; and advise the City of the effective date of the transfer or assignment. Additionally, Grantee’s obligations under this Contract Franchise with regard to indemnity, bonding and insurance shall continue until the transferee or assignee has taken the appropriate measures necessary to assume and replace the same, the intent being that there shall be no lapse in any coverage as a result of the transfer or assignment.

SECTION 13.        CONFIDENTIALITY.

Information provided to the City under this Contract Franchise or K.S.A. 12-2001 shall be governed by confidentiality procedures in compliance with K.S.A. 45-215, 60-432, and 66-1220a, et seq., and amendments thereto. Grantee agrees to indemnify and hold the City harmless from any and all penalties or costs, including attorneys’ fees, arising from the actions of Grantee, or of the City, at the request of Grantee, in seeking to safeguard the confidentiality of information provided by Grantee to the City under this Contract Franchise.

SECTION 14.        ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS.

Grantee shall have sixty (60) days after the final passage and approval of this Contract Franchise to file with the City Clerk its acceptance in writing of the provisions, terms and conditions of this Contract Franchise, which acceptance shall be duly acknowledged before some officer authorized by law to administer oaths; and when so accepted, this Contract Franchise and acceptance shall constitute a contract between the City and Grantee subject to the provisions of the laws of the state of Kansas, and such contract shall be deemed effective on the later of the date Grantee files acceptance with the City or publication of this Contract Franchise in accordance with applicable Laws (the “Effective Date”).

SECTION 15.        PAYMENT OF PUBLICATION COSTS.

In accordance with Kansas statute, Grantee shall be responsible for payment of all costs and expense of publishing this Contract Franchise, and any amendments thereof.

SECTION 16.        SEVERABILITY.

If any clause, sentence, or section of this Contract Franchise, or any portion thereof, shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder, as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part declared invalid; provided, however, the City or Grantee may elect to declare the entire Contract Franchise invalidated if the portion declared invalid is, in the judgment of the City or Grantee, an essential part of the Contract Franchise.

SECTION 17.        FORCE MAJEURE.

Each and every provision hereof shall be reasonably subject to acts of God, fires, strikes, riots, floods, war and other disasters beyond Grantee’s or the City’s control.

(2022)