WINCHESTER updating computers

By Editor | November 28, 2025 |

By Carmen Ensinger

The decision by Microsoft to stop supporting Windows 10 has forced many municipalities, including Winchester. The city council, at the November meeting, approved the purchase of four new computers for city hall.
“We have to update our computers and almost everyone (businesses) has to do so as well,” City Clerk Teri Little said. “What’s more, we have to have the Windows 11 operating system in order to run Quick Books.”
The council approved the purchase of three computers at a cost of $1,350 each from Hurrelbrink Consulting, LLC. Including installation, which is $80 an hour, the total price for the upgrade is $4,850.
There will be no employee Christmas party this year. Little suggested that due to the ever-rising expense of having the meal catered, that it would be more feasible to just give each employee a $40 gift certificate instead.
Mayor Rex McIntire thought it was a good idea but had one stipulation – the gift certificates had to be from Winchester businesses.
Debra Mustard addressed the council about applying for TIF (Tax Increment Financing) to do repairs to the old First Assembly of God building that she purchased.
“We have the first installment around the top edges of the building all done and are preparing to start work on the steeples,” Mustard said. “We didn’t realize it would be so expensive but we are coming right along and have submitted the final bill for the first portion.”
Mustard said the second phase of their remodeling will be to enclose the inside of the steeples with plywood and then put waterproof sheeting on top of that to prevent leakages when it rains.
“Then we are going to fix the siding up there and repaint the whole thing,” Mustard said. “About 50 percent of the bill is renting the lift to get up there to do the work.”
The building is currently being rented to Prairie Creations Pottery and Kiln Shop. They opened for business during the first part of September.
“I am glad to see you doing something with that building rather than see it just deteriorate,” Mayor McIntire said. “We will take your application under consideration and let you know. It will go on the agenda for next month so the council can consider it.”
Little gave the library report noting that the Winchester Public Library is going to receive a $10,000 grant, or gift, from the Carnegie Foundation. The Foundation has earmarked over $20 million in grant funding in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“The Family Reading Night is also looking into getting a Tracy Foundation grant,” Little said. “They are doing the Move and Grove for the little ones and story hour for all of the kids.”
Little said that the library is trying to get the grant because they have someone who wants to run a children’s program through the library and the grant would help to pay her.
Little also brought before the council the three options for paying the insurance premium. The first option is to pay early, by Nov. 14, an amount of $65,379.13 which reflects a discount. Option two has no discount and the premium would be $66,037 and due by Dec. 12. Option three would let the city pay in two installments but there would be a one percent processing charge for a total premium amount of 6,6694.87.
The city opted for option 1, with the money coming out of the General Fund. It covers all of the insurance for the fire department, police, library and pool.
Utility Superintendent John Simmons said that they have had a couple of severe water main issues.
“There are a couple more water mains giving us problems that could become disastrous later,” Simmons said. “They need replaced and we have bad service lines in different parts of the city that also need replaced.”
These issues are in areas that weren’t covered by the $3 million water main project just recently completed.
“I think we need to be looking at a way to budget the replacement of a water main each year,” Simmons said. “Let’s get prepared ahead of time.”
Simmons said he placed a large order, in the amount of $7,200, for gas parts.
“We have been having a lot of new houses and businesses taking up a lot of parts and we just need to restock because we have more things coming up,” he said. “These parts will last us for a while.”
The council approved the purchase of a three inch heavy duty gas water pump at a cost of $1,694.99.
“We ran into an issue where the break was so bad we couldn’t shut the main down,” Simmons said. “The vac truck has a small pump and would suck out the water but it would be full again by the time they got back from emptying it.”
The city will be letting bids for the two mowing contracts. The current contract has an auto-renew clause for 2026 unless either party terminates it in writing prior to Feb. 1. The city decided to just go ahead and put them out for bid again.