Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
(BEDFORD) - Free Wi-Fi is coming to Harps Common.
The Bedford Board of Works approved a 5-year contract with Helix Technologies to provide the downtown district with free Wi-Fi Internet.
Randy Clark from Helix told the board the service would be for all those that enjoy Harps Common and the downtown area, including the local eateries.
Helix will provide the service at no charge to the city. The city in return will allow Helix to place their equipment on the city's water towers and the tower at the Sheriff's Department.
The service will be provided for free up to 3 gigabytes, at a time. Helix will offer subscriptions at a low rate for those wanting more gigabytes.
"We are very excited about this," said Mayor Shawna Girgis. "Residents will be able to get outside, enjoy Harps Commons. They can set out in the sunshine and listen to Ipods, or play games or use their computers. This is a wonderful opportunity for the city."
The Wi-Fi will be up and running in about 90 days.
In other business:
* The board received bids for insurance proposals for property, liability, auto and workers compensation insurance for 2012 to 2013. Parker Group, Old National Insurance and Pillar Group all submitted bids. The bids were taken under advisement and the city will make a determination at a special Board of Works meeting Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
* The street department will purchase a 2012 snow plow from Ford. The city received two bids for the snow plow, one from Ford for a 2012 model at $77,546.50 and one from International for a 2010 model at $83,450.
* The board approved the placement of a stop sign at the intersection of Dogwood Court and Oakridge Drive. Currently there is no signage in the housing addition.
* The board approved the request of Robert Bottorff, a trustee at the First Baptist Church. The Dan Kirk will get with Bottorff to figure out exactly where the church would like the crosswalk placed. The placement of the crosswalk will allow patron's of the church to cross the street safely.
* The board approved the purchase of a sewer camera for $72,339.81 from Best Equipment in Indianapolis. Adams says the camera will be used in the more than 80 miles of city sewer and storm sewer lines. Adams says the new camera has a lot of needed features including a DVD player and crawlers, which will allow it to get into difficult areas. The cost of the camera also includes training for employees.
* The board approved the purchase of a new cargo van from Hubler for $22,254.50. The van will be used for the storage of the new sewer camera. Adams says once the camera has been in a sewer system it cannot be put in a vehicle that is used for other purposes, because once equipment enters the sewer system it develops a smell that would be transferred to any vehicle if it was placed in it.
* The board received a copy of the sewer back-up plan. The current plan allowed residents to use the city to service private lines. The city will no longer do that. Adams says they also discovered that several residents have hooked their downspouts and sump pumps to the sanitary sewers and that is a violation of city ordinance. Adams says many of the residents didn't realize it was a violation and are fixing the problem.
"We can't have that it really puts a tax on our system especially during a storm," Adams says.
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