By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

The Dexter Board of Aldermen gave its approval Monday evening to working with a cellular telephone company on the installation of a new cell tower in the city.

City Administrator Mark Stidham reported to the board that he and City Attorney Bud Lawrence had met and reviewed the contract between the city and T-Mobile on the cell company’s lease for the installation of a tower on the city water tower on Elder Drive.

“We’ve just about got all the bugs worked out of it,” Stidham reported.

Under the proposed agreement, T-Mobile will install a tower on the “Elder water tower” for $1,100 per month with an increase of  a two percent increase on an automatic renewal. Stidham asked the board for its permission to proceed with work with T-Mobile.

An ordinance permitting the cell tower on city property will be presented in the near future.

“This will be much like the one we have at the (West) Park,” Stidham said. Water Supt. Tom Espey reported he had already met with officials from the cell company.

“It’ll pay the maintenance on the tower – the painting” Stidham said.

On a motion by Ward II Alderman Tim Aslin and seconded by Ward III Alderman Kirby Taylor was unanimously approved.

Keller Public Library Director Pam Trammell reported that the Friends of the Library Fashion Show on March 12 was a successful event and thanked local merchants for their support.

Street Supt. Jeff Myers reported the company working with the city on water drainage downtown – Digital Sewer – met with city officials on Monday and the firm will arrive next month for the next phase of the project.

Workers with Digital Sewer will arrive back in the city on April 9, Myers reported. Workers will need to clean what little debris has settle in the system since it was cleaned, and take measurement for the liners that will be installed.

“They will be here and  start our project uptown on April 16,” he said. “What they’ve already done has helped a lot. But this will just reinforce the really bad spots.”

He said the city crews have started doing some work that coincides with the work that will be done by the digital firm.

In other business Monday evening, the board

• Received the monthly report for February 2012 from City Auditor Eddie Cato;
• Learned from Library Director Trammell that checkouts from the Keller Public Library are up 10 percent and the Summer Reading Program will begin June 13
• Approved a Package Liquor License and a Sunday Sales License for Break Time, which will open at the Intersection of Business Highway 60 and Catalpa Street.

Photo Above: Water Supt. Tom Espey, Park And Recreation Supt. Lawson Metcalf, and Streets and Sanitation Supt. Jeff Myers listen to the aldermanic debate during Monday's meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)