Council talks tower antennas (3/9/04)

DUNKIRK — More debate about installing antennas on the city water tower filled the air at Monday’s council session here.

Dunkirk City Council members voted unanimously to allow a Jay Emergency Management Agency weather information radio antenna to be located on the tower, provided that agency provides the necessary $1,000 to $1,200 to fund the project.

EMA radio officer Dan Daniels said that he and EMA director Ralph Frazee had met with city water department superintendent Dace Mumbower last week to inspect the tower site. They agreed that the antenna would not interfere with the water department operations.

Daniels said he was hoping the city would pay for a portion of the costs of putting up the antenna, as it would benefit local residents.

“Our funds are tight,” Mayor Sam Hubbard said, noting that perhaps some sort of grant money could be obtained to fund the project.

“Let’s look into some funding ideas, and hope we can come up with the money,” Hubbard said. Councilman Dan Watson volunteered to help with this process.

Also on Monday night’s council agenda was the continuation of discussions aimed at installing separate receiving equipment on the city water tower to bring wireless, broadband Internet service to Dunkirk and the surrounding area.

This equipment would consist of a cluster of small antennas, Jay Miller, representing WInd.Net LLC of Muncie, said.

“We need to know definitely if we want to do this,” Hubbard said.

Following further discussion, council members voted 4-1 to proceed with the project “subject to an agreeable contract” being developed. Hubbard said that WInd.Net would be asked to pay the city a fee of between 50 cents and $1 a foot per month for the use of the tower. The water tower is 149 feet tall, city officials said.

Watson cast the dissenting vote, saying he was afraid the city might be opening up “a can of worms” by allowing too (Continued on page 2)

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many antennas on the water tower. He said that while WInd.Net wanted exclusive Internet rights on the tower, how could the city prevent another firm from offering more money to locate an antenna there. Also Watson questioned whether too many antennas might eventually interfere with water department operations.

“Where will this end?” Watson asked.

In other business Monday, council members:

•Listened to Skylar Finnerty, speaking on behalf of about a dozen young people in the audience, explain the need for a skateboard park in the Dunkirk area. Hubbard and Watson said they were not opposed to such a facility, if a suitable site could be found. They both recommended that the skateboard enthusiasts attend the next city park board meeting at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at city hall.

•Agreed to adjust wastewater treatment bills for two residents who said water pipes had broken on their land, causing their water and sewer bills to increase. The residents said the city’s sewer facilities were not affected as the water ran into the ground. Council members said they had made similar adjustments in the past.

•Heard a report from Mumbower that city water hydrants would be flushed on April 1 and 2. Residents should be careful about doing laundry on those days.

•Agreed to donate $100 to the Jay County High School Junior-Senior Prom Committee.[[In-content Ad]]