Council questions Dollar General?s utility provider

By Karyn Spory, Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? There was some contention Tuesday night as to why the City of New London would not be providing electricity services for the new Dollar General store.

City Council member Greg Malott said he had heard the city had ?chosen to give Access Energy? the Dollar General account, without the issue being brought before the council members.

?I did not give it to them,? contested City Clerk Kasi Howard. ?They are in the Access Energy service area. When you look at the map, it clearly is not (in our area).?

Malott said as a private citizen and a council member he believed the item should have been presented to the council, even calling the handling of the situation ?underhanded.?

?We have grievously missed an opportunity,? he said of the city?s utility not having the account.

Malott wondered if there was anything that could still be done to get the account, adding he felt the city was ?giving up too easily.?

Howard said the Iowa Utility?s Board sets the boundaries for each utility entity and the Dollar General location was not within the bounds of the city?s utility.

In Dollar General related news, councilman Tom Davis said the construction of the store is set to be completed in July. There is no set date for the store to open.

In other construction news, the council members have yet to make any definite decision on the park shelter house.

Last month, the council had discussed having a third party come up with some plans and quotes for the shelter house. However, no plans were presented on Tuesday. Malott said he would be prepared with building plans and costs.

In other business, the council:

? Approved a resolution to amend parking on North Division Street. Parking will no longer be allowed on the west side of the street on the 100 and 200 blocks.

? Approved a performance contract with Steve and Michaela McLain for the July 29, 2017 concert for $500.

? Approved dates and movie titles for the summer movie nights. The Lego Batman Movie will play on June 16. July 14 will be Finding Dory and the new Ghostbusters movie will be on Aug. 18. All movies will begin at dusk.

The New London City Council will meet next on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 6 p.m.