Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 3, 2016 Because riding a donkey isn’t hard enough Monmouth-Independence Networks board of directors and their connections: Greg Ellis—Dallas economic development director Scott McClure—Monmouth city manager, Minet board chairman David Ritchey—Monmouth Police officer Jon Carey—Monmouth city councilor Jerry Hoffman—Independence city councilor Mike Lodge—spouse of Independence city council president Nancy Lodge Other connections: Marilyn Morton—Minet administrator, Independence city councilor Board members are appointed by the Independence and Monmouth city councils, according to the intergovernmental agreement that formed Minet. Minet claims 78 percent of users Company to increase rates for cable By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Monmouth Independence Networks Manager Don Patten reported an overall penetration rate of 78.2 percent at the Thursday board of directors meeting. That means that 78.2 percent of every available property in the Monmouth and Independence area that can receive services from Minet is receiving at least one of the three serv- ices the company provides: cable, Internet or tele- phone, Patten said Of the 390 active busi- nesses or organizations in the area, Minet is serving 336 of them, Patten said. The company has made more than $100,000 in net income for the last three months, and continues to remain flat. Buzz Brazeau, who serves on the finance committee, said being “flat” is not a bad thing. “It’s positively flat in that we have control over both sides (expenses and rev- ANGIE MILBURN/for the Itemizer-Observer Eric Milburn, for Perrydale, takes a shot for the basket from his donkey during a game between Perrydale and Dayton’s FFA programs. The Perrydale team was made up of students, community players and Amity Fire Department. Other Perrydale players pictured are Devin Cruickshank, John Cruickshank Jr. and Mike Hawes. Perrydale took home the victory and bragging rights. The event was coordinated by Perrydale ag teacher Christina Lorenz. Dallas street bond, fee suggested By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — A second committee looking into the condition and maintenance options for Dallas’ residen- tial streets has recommend- ed the city request voters pass a 10-year, $10 million bond and a utility fee for street repair and upkeep. The Residential Street Task Force submitted its final recommendation to the Dallas City Council on Jan. 19. The group of citizens and business leaders began meeting in the fall of 2015 to review the effort to educate residents about the condi- tion of residential streets in Dallas and a former com- mittee’s recommendation of a three-step effort to im- prove street conditions. The first step would be a $10 million, 10-year bond, followed by the passage of a utility fee and/or gas tax for upkeep. The final step would be a second bond to repair the remaining streets. City Manager Ron Foggin said the task force’s main ob- jective was to figure out the best time to put the first bond before voters. After looking at three dates to put the issue on the ballot — May 2016, November 2016 or May 2017 — the group decided the city should act sooner rather than later, rec- ommending May 2016. The group also suggested the city put together an in- formational flyer for citizens and a presentation to show to stakeholder groups and civic organizations. The Dallas City Council accepted the task force’s re- port, though it didn’t signal whether it would take action on the proposal, Foggin said. The council will have to ap- prove a resolution to put the bond before voters. Foggin said he was grate- ful for both the committee and the task force’s work. “I can’t say enough about the work both street com- mittees have done to make sure that, moving forward, we have a plan to take care of ours street,” he said. The council will hold a public hearing on Feb. 15. For more information about residential streets in Dallas: http://www.dalla- sor.gov/739/Street-Condi- tion-Map. Matinees are all shows before 6pm. New pricing for matinees are: Adult $7.25 Children $6.75 • Senior $7.00 Pricing does not reflect 3D showings. Friday - Saturday Feb 5 - Feb 6 Did the Stork visit you in 2015? DIRTY GRANDPA (Digital) (R) THE BOY (Digital) (PG13) THE REVENANT (Digital) (R) FINEST HOURS (Digital 2D) (PG13) KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Digital 2D) (PG) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE CHOICE (Digital) (PG13) THE 5TH WAVE (Digital) (PG13) 13 HOURS (Digital) (R) PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES (Digital) (PG13) (12:35 2:55) (5:15) (12:00 3:05) (1:45 4:35) (12:10 2:35 4:50) 7:30 6:10 7:15 7:10 (12:20 3:25) 6:30 (1:50 4:25) 7:00 (1:10) 6:45 (3:45) 9:30 9:25 (12:00 2:25 4:50) 7:20 9:35 Sunday February 7 DIRTY GRANDPA (Digital) (R) THE BOY (Digital) (PG13) THE REVENANT (Digital) (R) FINEST HOURS (Digital 2D) (PG13) KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Digital 2D) (PG) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE CHOICE (Digital) (PG13) THE 5TH WAVE (Digital) (PG13) 13 HOURS (Digital) (R) PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES (Digital) (PG13) (12:35 2:55) (5:15) (12:00 3:05) (1:45 4:35) (12:10 2:35 4:50) 7:30 6:10 7:15 7:10 (12:20 3:25) 6:30 (1:50 4:25) 7:00 (1:10) 6:45 (3:45) (12:00 2:25 4:50) 7:20 Monday - Thursday Feb 8 - Feb 11 Aria Nicole Peters • Dec. 26, 2015 All babies will be entered into a drawing for FREE PRIZES from area merchants! BABIES OF 2015 Showcase your little one with his or her photo, birthdate and names of proud parents. Only babies born in 2015 are candidates for BABIES OF 2015. All baby photos submitted will appear in a special full color section of the Itemizer- Observer on Feb. 24, 2016. Please mail or drop off the following form, a photo and $25.00 to our office by Feb.19th prior to 2:00 p.m. (The photo may be picked Mom! Dad! up after publication). If you have any Grandparents! questions, please call Dawn at Bring in 503-623-2373. a photo! DIRTY GRANDPA (Digital) (R) THE BOY (Digital) (PG13) THE REVENANT (Digital) (R) FINEST HOURS (Digital 2D) (PG13) KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Digital 2D) (PG) STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (Digital 2D) (PG13) THE CHOICE (Digital) (PG13) THE 5TH WAVE (Digital) (PG13) 13 HOURS (Digital) (R) PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES (Digital) (PG13) (2:55) (5:15) (3:05) (1:45 4:35) (2:35 4:50) 7:30 6:10 7:15 7:10 (3:25) 6:30 (1:50 4:25) 7:00 (1:10) 6:45 (3:45) (2:25 4:50) 7:20 9:20 A Pleasant Place to Buy or Sell Your RV CALL TODAY FOR A NO-CHARGE EVALUATION. OPEN K! S A WEE 9-5 Y A D 7 • Sat Mon-Fri 9-6 -4 Sun 10 Rick 503-437-5398 (CLIP THIS FORM) 9:55 9:15 9:40 9:15 enue),” Brazeau said. One thing Minet cannot control is costs from con- tent providers, such as AMC. In late fall of 2015, Minet polled customers on Facebook to see if they would prefer dropping AMC and associated chan- nels or pay more for the programming. Other cable carriers also had troubles meeting AMC’s demands. AMC Networks were ask- ing for a 350 percent rate in- crease in addition to forcing cable providers to carry ad- ditional low-rated networks, and requiring a fee for all subscribers, even if they do not subscribe to those channels, along with a com- mitment to a 10-year con- tract as opposed to the in- dustry standard of three to five years, according to a press release from BCT, a cable provider in the Beavercreek and Oregon City areas. On Jan. 6, Minet an- nounced on Facebook that a negotiation had been reached with AMC, but con- tent providers continue to increase fees, Patten said. He recommended, and the board approved, an 11 percent increase in cable rates. Cable prices begin at $25 per month. In other business, the board asked Patten to stop pursuing a purchase serv- ice model that could pro- vide the cities of Mon- mouth and Independence with free WiFi. Patten said the effort would cost be- tween $750,000 and $1 mil- lion to do it wirelessly for both communities, and grants could be available. He has brought the topic up before, suggesting that the two cities might consid- er some debt forgiveness in exchange for the service. “The discussion you had about penetration, every- body that wants broadband has it,” board president Scott McClure said. “I think we should move off of this.” Board members Mike Lodge and David Ritchey agreed. Board member Jon Carey disagreed, wanting more discussion and solid figures and estimates. Ruben 503-915-2080 4075 NE Three Mile Lane, McMinnville, OR www.macrvsales.com Next to the Spruce Goose Aviation Museum macrvsales@gmail.com _____________________________________________________________ Baby’s Full Name _____________________________________________________________ Birthdate _____________________________________________________________ Birth Place _____________________________________________________________ Parent’s Names _____________________________________________________________ Phone Number _____________________________________________________________ Address Remember to bring in a photo! Cost is only $25.00 DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 19 PUBLISH: FEBRUARY 24 Itemizer-Observer 147 SE Court St. • Dallas • 503-623-2373 Solution on Page 14A