Sheldon residents soon to surf without wires

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Wireless internet service is coming to Sheldon. During a meeting Tuesday night, Sheldon's board of aldermen gave its final approval to an agreement with Neighborlink to provide wireless internet service to the city. The service will also be available to area residents within about a six-mile radius of the town. For residents, Neighborlink will offer the antenna equipment needed to receive the service, for an initial fee of $199, and monthly service will cost about $35. Residents at the meeting pointed out that the monthly cost is similar to and in some cases smaller than the amount many are paying for traditional, wire-served Internet when combined with the cost of an additional phone line, however, some expressed concern that residents may balk at the installation fee, and at this point, aldermen admitted it's not clear how many people will sign up for the wireless service. However, Neighborlink provides a similar service in Nevada, and some in attendance reported that friends in Nevada who have the Neighborlink service are pleased with it. Alderman Monte Morgan said he's in favor of the idea. "I'm getting it. That's for sure. It'll be worth it, considering the time I spend on the Internet. I use it all the time to do research for my business. And it's fast. It'll be so much faster. Instead of waiting a minute and a half for a page to download, it's there instantly," he said. But he agreed that the number of people who sign up for the service will have an impact on the city. In its agreement with Neighborlink, the city of Sheldon will pay $4,000 to set up the system and the central antenna serving Neighborlink. In exchange, the city gets to use the system for free, and collects a five percent franchise fee on user accounts inside the city. So, if 45 to 50 people use the wireless service, then the city will recoup its $4,000 in about four years. If not, it will take longer -- possibly several years longer, Morgan said. According to state statistics, about 220 families live in Sheldon. The number of possible customers in the area was not available. Despite the initial cost involved, aldermen pointed out that the city will save money anyway, since the city is now paying $215 per year for its internet service that the city will save when the wireless system is in place. According to the agreement, the city of Sheldon will get five accounts -- four of which are spoken for already, said Morgan. One account will serve the city's library, and will allow up to 10 computers to access the Internet through the wireless system. One will serve a laptop (yet to be installed) in the city's police car. A third will be used by the police department and the fourth at city hall. The fifth account has not yet been assigned, but Morgan said it may be used by the maintenance department or the fire department. Equipment will be ordered immediately and the service should be up and running in a few weeks. In other business, residents expressed concern that anonymous posts left on a message board on the city's Web site, SheldonMo.com are mean-spirited and suggested they should be edited more closely. Morgan reported that he had received some complaints about some of the messages posted. "These people (those posting such messages) need to get lives of their own," commented Morgan, noting, however, that "Web sites are a wonderful tool." The board of aldermen also: * Agreed to draft an ordinance aimed at mitigating the problem of several free-roaming cats in the area, which residents complain scratch the tops of their cars, enter garages and leave droppings in their yards. * Heard a report that a water leak exists near First Street and State Route B, which may originate under the highway. The board accepted a recommendation to fix the leak by inserting a smaller diameter pipe into the existing pipe that goes under the highway. City Clerk Becky Morgan said that several residents have reported problems with water quality. Some, like those at the end of lines, are experiencing odor and discoloration of water. Morgan said chlorine levels dropped significantly over a two-block span in one area of town. * Agreed to form a committee to evaluate engineer's qualifications in order to select an engineering firm to study water quality issues in Sheldon. The water survey will be funded by a $10,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. It's a matching grant, which means the city will pay 10 percent of the cost from its coffers. * Set the 2003 city tax levy at 68.67 cents per $100 assessed valuation. * Agreed to table a proposal to contract with Vernon County for property and real estate collection. Becky Morgan reported that Vernon County Clerk Tammi Beach notified her that the county will begin collecting property taxes for the city of Walker. Becky Morgan said the county gets 1 percent of the receipts, but residents get one bill, pay in one place and are more likely to pay the city's tax bill if it's part of the county bill, because residents must pay property taxes in order to license vehicles. "We have about $8,000 on the books in uncollected taxes," she said. Some of that is uncollectable but she also noted that about $2,500 in city property tax goes uncollected each year. The county treasurer's office would also get 5 percent. Currently, the city pays its tax collector a fee of $375; the county's fee would be $500. The county would also require a $2,000, one-time set-up fee for the service, which, if Sheldon participates, would be split between Sheldon and Walker -- and any other city desiring to participate. A decision must be made before the end of October, when tax rolls are printed. * Agreed to continue looking into purchasing a new trash truck for the city garbage collection service. * The existing trash truck needs frequent repairs and has recently been out of service. The estimated cost of a suitable, used garbage truck is between $18,000 and $20,000 if the old truck is traded in. * Area trash companies have provided prices for providing trash pick-up, but according to minutes from a July meeting, the city made more than $11,000 from the trash service from January to July and aldermen felt they can't afford to lose the income.

To Read More
Subscribe Sign In
Continue reading with a subscription
Subscription options