Marion to compare website proposals
By KATHY HAGEMAN
Staff writer
Marion City Commissioners are expected Monday to determine who will create the new city website.
This past Monday, commissioners heard a presentation from Infinitec out of Hays. This was the third website presentation within the past few weeks.
Infinitec representative Laura Blossom told commissioners the main module allows for the input of information. The cost of the main module is $795. That includes domain setup and maintenance, built-in security and daily backup, unlimited phone support for the first 30 days then five hours of phone support for the first year.
The city would need to enter into a one-year minimum agreement at a cost of $50 per month, the price for cities with populations of less than 5,000.
Blossom told the commission that Infinitec is looking for a beta site and if the city was interested, the $795 main module cost would not apply. The term "beta site" means the city's website would serve as a "guinea pig" or testing arena for the company.
"We have 23 counties already using our main website module but we'd like some more suggestions," Blossom explained. "We'd like to have the city as a beta site."
Infinitec created the new Marion County website, Blossom said. Commissioner Larry McLain said he had viewed it and it was very attractive.
Commissioner Jim Crofoot said he did not think the city's website would be a large enough undertaking for the company to use it as a testing site. However, Blossom said it would be OK for the main module.
Police Chief Michel Soyez, serving as the city's technology person in this situation, said he wanted to know how much time city personnel would need to invest in getting the website up and running.
Commissioners directed city administrator Dave Mayfield and Soyez to examine the three website proposals presented and come up with a recommendation.
Soyez noted each proposal had included different things. "We'll need to do a comparison."
Mayfield agreed, "We need to compare apples to apples."
Marion City Librarian Janet Marler noted that the Howells, a husband and wife duo who presented one of the proposals, were well known throughout the state for their work with library websites.
"They've been very reliable," Marler said.
Crofoot noted that except for the Infinitec proposal the other two were made by individuals. He questioned what would become of the website if something happened to one of the individuals.
Cleanup week successful
City inspector Marty Fredrickson reported on city cleanup week held this past week. During a usual week, city refuse workers pick up nine truckloads amounting to 26 tons. However, during cleanup week, workers picked up 34 truck loads amounting to 102 tons. The refuse included C&D waste, trash, and appliances.
The city hauled 80 to 85 appliances including stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and air conditioners.
Fredrickson reported dirt had been hauled to the curb and guttering project on Kellison Street. He also reported 32 letters had been sent out this summer for properties needing to be mowed. Of the 32, city crews only had to mow three. Fredrickson said properties on the list were placed there following neighbors' complaints.
In an unrelated matter, Fredrickson asked commissioners to consider keeping the city's tree dump open through the month of November.
"A lot of the foliage still hasn't fallen and I'd like to see it stay open a few more weeks," Fredrickson said.
Commissioners okayed the request.
In other matters, the commission:
— heard from Commissioner Crofoot who said the Kiwanis Club had been interrupted during their noon meeting by an angry woman who asked why the city did not have any handicapped parking downtown. Crofoot said he knew the city had handicapped parking places at one time and questioned whether it still did. Mayfield said he would look into it.
— Commissioner McLain expressed appreciation to police officer Phillip Hartsfield for his articles which have been printed in the Marion County Record.
Chief Soyez said the articles were a "proactive approach" to community policing and were good in notifying new people in town of ordinances or situations that may be a little different in Marion as compared to other towns.
— approved warrants amounting to $12,515.11.
