Internet issues in Dearborn were one of the many topics discussed during the board of aldermen meeting earlier this month.
Board member Breanna Cheadle and city clerk Cindy Atkison talked about issues each encountered in recent weeks with CenturyLink. Cheadle, as a resident, while Atkison described problems at city hall.
Atkison made a service call about trouble with internet access and learned the city’s ‘bundle’ purchased with the provider months ago that was suppose to boost speeds from 3 megabits per second to 10 megabits per second wasn’t working. The city, however, was getting charged for both but could get a refund for up to 90 days but was trying to get money back from the time when the city ‘bundled’ with the company.
A new modem was sent to help accommodate the change after Atkison asked multiple times for a service call for it to be installed. The modem, when shipped, was sent to the wrong address which delayed the delivery.
CenturyLink then one upped themselves by scheduling a disconnect for the city — for all services after realizing the 3/10 mbps confusion —which was stopped after an in-person discussion with Atkison and a service tech. Then after some work was done, CenturyLink switched the phone line and fax line for the city, which was then fixed.
“It is quite a pain in the butt,” Atkison told the board. “It is a constant chore.”
Cheadle has been in contact with United Fiber about coming to Dearborn to provide service, which could spell the end of CenturyLink, but the Savannah, Mo. company needs roughly 500 people to show interest — and so far only about 150 have called. If service does come to Dearborn, it is likely Camden Point, Edgerton and New Market could also could have more internet service options.
“They want to get here, we just got to let them know they have the interest,” Cheadle said.
United Fiber offers television, internet, phone services, as well as wireless based and satellite based internet services.
Cheadle noted her family signed up for a 25 mbps from CenturyLink and on a good day, the highest speed is 23 and the average is 18.
“I’m not getting what I’m paying for and more than likely a lot of people aren’t getting what they are paying for either,” she said “The agreement was for 25. That is what I expect. They send bills and that is what they expect me to pay. I have a problem paying for something I’m not getting.”
She mentioned if the issues isn’t resolved she would reach out to the Missouri Attorney General’s office.
Park Grant
Chris Shove talked to the board about applying for a park grant before the board ultimately decided to wait on the issue instead of applying by the Feb. 15 deadline for a Community Development Block Grant.
Shove had a plan for a walking trail and talked to multiple residents in town about an easement, but not enough progress was made before the deadline. He first approached the board back in November 2018.
He suggested the board could also look into loans from the USDA if there is a project the town would like to address.
Cheadle told Shove she would be more comfortable going ahead with the grant application if there was a better gauge on the cost and drawings of the proposed trail.
It was agreed to put it on the agenda for months down the line in order to maybe apply in February 2020.
“Put it on the agenda,” resident and business owner Elaine Greer said. “There are certain things that are put off and we never hear from them again. Two months or six months or whatever. There has been too many things have been talked about. He has put a lot of work into this and fairness for him and possibly for the city of Dearborn we should put it on the agenda at a certain time.”
In terms of items that were talked about and not addressed in the past, toward the end of the meeting, Cheadle asked about putting a calendar on the website for usage of the community center months ago and so far it hasn’t been done. She requested by the next meeting that task is handled.
Paradise Lake
Bob Wagers’ proposed housing development, Paradise Lake Estates, was talked about again.
Though he wasn’t there, a representative from a real estate business that will work with Wagers was present. Wagers first appeared in July 2018 to talk about a housing development north of town.
So far there been has not been any applications for a permit to start construction. The developer and the city share the same engineer and an easement was needed for the sewer line, though the water line is already present.
“I hear a lot of people come to me to saying the city is holding up Bob Wagers from building houses,” mayor Jamie Morey said. “The city is not holding up Bob. There is no reason the streets can’t be put in and houses be built.”
Other news
A public hearing was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 11 for a rezoning of 201 W. Third Street from commercial to residential. Notices had to be sent out 15 days prior to the meeting to all land owners within 185 feet of the property.
The community center generator was under old business, but city attorney Dan Fowler asked for it to be moved to closed session for ‘legal advice.’
The furnace at the community center was fixed and was under warranty.
The city will have to pay $2,179.82 in property tax for leased equipment, different in years past as the heavy equipment comes from Caterpillar instead of Bobcat.