CEYLON– Ceylon City Council met on Tuesday evening, May 11. The first point of business was a public hearing about the grant for fiber optic broadband internet the city hopes to have available for the residents. Three residents were in attendance for the hearing and

told of frustration with Frontier Internet. They told of slow connections or not connecting at all. They complained of work crews saying they would fix something in two weeks and never showing up, although they complained every week. They also told of rain making their phone inoperable. The council said the lines were from 1950 and 1960. They also read letters complaining about the internet from Frontier and from the school districts explaining that students need reliable connection to the internet. The wireless internet is not as reliable as the fiber optic internet connection.

The council approved applying for the Economic Development Grant and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund by June 1, 2021. The council approved the contracts for city employees and companies doing business with the City such as Kling Excavation, Beckendorf Plumbing and Heating, and Rosenberg Electric. There was an explanation of the Rural Service District Ordinance and the first reading of the 2021 ordinance. The ratio benefits for farm land taxes on undeveloped land inside the city will be discussed at the

next meeting. An estimate for exploring and repairing storm sewer plug on Center Street was discussed. It was tabled for now. It would necessitate removing and replacing some asphalt after unplugging the storm sewer. The storm sewers were repaired in 1997. The city clerk and city employee will make a list of the storm sewers that are lower than street level in the hope that those will be repaired as a city project.

There were some questions brought up by council members that residents had asked about ordinance violations and what is being done about them, and what the water added to the pond from Valero tested before being added. The clerk explained that monthly tests are taken of the pond water. The council asked that the city employee report about the water added.

The council discussed the progress on the ordinance violations.There was a suggestion to add old business and the updates of that and then new business to the agenda for all meetings.

The annual Clean Up Day will be May 22 this year with free junk pick up at the city shop and curbside pick up for $10 for junk no bigger than the back of a pickup. Tags can be purchased at Welcome City Hall prior to that day. Things that could be repurposed can be set out on Monday, May 17 on the curb. Then any not taken should be taken to the city shop on the 22nd. This is a good opportunity to get rid of junk that may be an ordinance violation free of charge.

If the city has to take junk later there will be a charge to the owner. A good opportunity to keep the City of Ceylon clean.