Stantonsburg considers wireless Internet

13 December 2007 — The tallest order of business at the Stantonsburg town board meeting this month was swearing in a handful of board members and staff members.

As the meeting begun, former Mayor Roland Gardner asked the outgoing board if they had anything they wanted to say.

Billy Bardin, who was not voted in for another term on the board, said a few parting words. He thanked the board for letting him serve as long as he had, and said he left with no ill feelings.

“I’ve agreed one hundred percent with everything this board has done,” he said, “except for two things – the light bill increase and the dogs.”

He went on to say that he supports the new board completely, and would help them in any way if they needed it.

Mr. Gardner, who had opened his last meeting as mayor, said he seconded Mr. Bardin’s thoughts.

Outgoing town clerk Diane Webb then swore in Bill Edmundson, who vacated his seat as a commissioner to become mayor. Mayor Edmundson then swore in returning commissioner Hubert Tyson and new commissioner Ken Horne.

The board also swore in the town’s new clerk, Victoria Lucas.

The first order of business for the board was to make an appointment for the seat left vacant by Mayor Edmundson.

Dan Whitley moved that the board appoint Tommy Darden to the seat. Mr. Darden had run for one of the seats, and had tied Mr. Horne. The two had drawn straws to determine the winner.

When the board called a vote, Mr. Whitley and Robert Watson voted for Mr. Darden to have the seat. Mr. Tyson and Mr. Horne abstained from voting, and the seat was given to Mr. Darden.

After the vote, Mr. Tyson sought to clarify why he abstained from voting, saying that he had received an unsigned letter from a citizen regarding Mr. Darden, and he didn’t know whether there was any validity to the letter or not.

He said he assumed the letter had gone to all of the board members, but only he, Mr. Horne, and Mayor Edmundson received a copy.

After Mr. Darden was officially sworn in, the board proceeded to new business. Business was light as the new board got things started.

The board heard a presentation from Mark Cannon of Computer Central, who was proposing a business deal with the town for wireless Internet.

The company asked to be allowed to install wireless frequency boxes on the town’s water tower, which would allow Stantonsburg citizens as well as those outside the city limits to receive wireless internet from the company. The project would only cost the town 10 watts of power, and the town has its choice of two reward options. They can either receive one free wireless connection for a town building, as well as receive a 10 percent commission on the profit generated from their area after the tenth customer has signed up, or they can opt to receive a commission from the first customer and waive the free connection.

The board agreed to look over the information presented and discuss the option at next month’s meeting.

The board also re-elected Dan Whitley as Mayor Pro Tem and check co-signature, and elected Robert Watson as a back up co-signature. Victoria Lucas was also moved from probationary status to a full-time employee of the town.

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Issue of 13 December 2007

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