Internet, Crooked Creek Days talk head city council business

By SALLY Y. HAYES

Mt. Pleasant News

WINFIELD ? Mayor Chris Finnell began his first Winfield City Council meeting by leading those present in the Pledge of Allegiance Monday evening.

The council spent much time discussing during the public forum about internet in Winfield and the surround area. A citizen voiced his trouble with current Internet options in the area.

Mike Schill with Natel revisited the council to present an Internet option the company may be able to bring to the area. Natel is an Internet provider based in Fairfield.

?We are in expansion mode via the broadband stimulus program that was launched actually a couple of years ago. Now we?re actively expanding,? explained Schill. ?Basically we offer high speed Internet service to communities at very reasonable prices.?

Natel currently serves the communities of Brighton, Lockridge and Wapello. The company uses existing structures, such as water towers to provide service to the area.

?I think the best thing the city can do is encourage competition,? stated Finnell. The mayor asked that a copy of the company?s standard contract be sent to the council for further review.

Crooked Creek Days was also discussed at length. Scott Jennings presented new possibilities for the council to consider, including a carnival company, a softball tournament and road signs.

?We?re wanting to do a carnival,? Jennings said. The festival?s committee met in November with a carnival company about the possibility.

Jennings explained that B and D Entertainment, a carnival company based in Lone Tree, would be able to bring rides and games to the August festival. The carnival would set up on streets near the school during Crooked Creek Days, if approved.

The carnival operates mostly on generators but would require one power drop box from a telephone pole. The cost of this power drop box is estimated at $1,000 according to Jennings and the city was asked to cover this cost.

?They do not charge us anything to be here, they take the first $5,000 off the top and then if they don?t make $5,000 it doesn?t cost us anything to have them here,? said Jennings, ?If they make more than $5,000 they give us 10 percent of everything after that.?

Finnell suggested that the public safety committee, made up of councilmen Roger Sharp and Ryan Rees, look into the possibility of a carnival and report back at the city council meeting in February.

Jennings also proposed hosting an adult softball tournament during the August festival.

The council was not in favor of hosting an adult softball tournament due to concerns of alcohol consumption occurring on public property. However, the council and mayor suggested an alternative of having an Amateur Softball Association (ASA) tournament with the possibility of an adult division being offered.

?Crooked Creek, to me, is a family oriented event that the city puts on,? stated the mayor, with many nods of agreement coming from council members.

?I think it?s (a softball tournament) a good idea, I appreciate the sentiment. But I think if we change it from an adult softball tournament to a kids softball tournament, this problem (alcohol issues) goes away and everybody?s happy,? stated Finnell.

Jennings also asked that detour signs be placed entering town designating routes for trucks. ?We don?t want everyone to go that way, we just want the big trucks to go that way,? stated Jennings, who hopes to increase the number of attendees at Crooked Creek Days in 2012.

Walt Jackson also attended the city council meeting to introduce himself as the new Henry County Emergency Management Director. ?I just wanted to say that I?m here to work for you guys,? he stated.

Jackson also stated that he is planning to have a meeting soon with all of the fire chiefs and police chiefs to discuss programs that officials in Henry County would like to have.

The council approved a five-year garbage contract with Hewitt Excavating and Sanitary Disposal Inc. The company is based in Morning Sun.

The contract has weekly pickup of containers smaller than 34 gallons with rates of $9.50 for seniors and $10.50 for regulars. Larger items may be collected through the company as well. Also, one city wide cleanup is also approved in the contract.

In other business the council:

? set a budget workshop for fiscal year 2013 for the evening of Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.;

? approved the fiscal year sewer budget;

? read a letter submitted by Marilyn and David Nichols concerning the property at 103 North Olive;

? appointed council members to various committees;

? $750 was approved for support of the veterans? building;

? approved a liquor license renewal with Sunday privileges and outdoor service for 19th Hole.

The next regular session meeting of the Winfield City Council is set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 13.