City column resumes
Council concerned about free advertising
Staff reporter
Marion City Council will allow Marion Economic Development Director Jami Williams to resume the city column, "Did You Know."
During Monday's meeting, Williams said her job description directed her position to "promote" businesses and her interpretation of promoting a business means using the Internet and the column.
Williams said that in today's world, businesses need to consider every way possible to advertise which included the Internet.
The column was discontinued by the council a few months ago when concerns were voiced by Hoch Publishing Company and council members regarding the free advertising provided in the column. When the column was halted, Williams said she received more than 40 comments from people wanting it to continue.
Mayor Mary Olson said if the column was to continue, more editing would have to be done.
Councilman Stacey Collett said he supported the idea of Williams sending information about the city but doesn't want her to provide free advertising.
Williams said the items in the column would be new items not previously available to the public.
Councilman Bill Holdeman was not in favor of the column, and stated it was up to the individual business owners to advertise in the local newspaper.
"I encourage businesses to advertise at the movie theater at Newton
Councilman Gene Winkler, the councilman who made the initial motion a few months prior to discontinue the column, said the city needed to "promote" every business in town.
"This (e-mail) is fast
Winkler added if the column remained informational only, he was all for it.
Williams said it would not be solicited information since it is "information from the public for the public." She added that she hated to limit the information only to city news and it defeated the purpose of "promotion."
"I think you have the blessings of the city on that now that you have an idea of what we want," Olson said.
With that, Winkler made the motion to resume the column, Jerry Kline seconded; and the motion passed 4-1, with Holdeman voting against.
Williams then asked the question if the column should only be limited to businesses within Marion city limits. Olson suggested Williams present more information at the next meeting.
