Big leap forward
Cell service, internet to get boost with county/ business partnership
NEWS EDITOR
Taylor County will use some of its excess debt capacity to assist a private business in expanding internet and cellular telephone access to virtually all parts of the county.
During the March 4 meeting of the Taylor County Board, board members approved a preliminary resolution to authorize Bug Tussel to use up to $14 million of the county’s borrowing capacity to assist in financing for a plan to construct towers and lay additional fiber optic cable.
Under the plan, the county is not actually incurring any debt, but is using its debt capacity to essentially cosign as part of Bug Tussel’s financing package. The risk is if Bug Tussel were to go under, the county would be at risk for loans. To mitigate that risk, the county has collateral in the form of the towers and infrastructure being put in by the company as well as receiving annual payments from the company.
Board member Mike Bub, who heads the county’s broadband committee, explained that the actual amount is projected to be less especially if the project is able to secure any broadband expansion grants that are available. He said they wanted to be able to have enough to move forward with the project regardless of the outcome of the grants.
Bub explained that the project will complete a ring of fiber optic cable in the county as well as contracting 17 towers which will be used for providing wireless high speed internet to homes. He said cellular provider AT& T has already committed to putting equipment on five of the towers, which will greatly improve cellular coverage. They would continue to work with other vendors for that.
If all goes according to plan, the system will be in place and providing service to customers by the middle to end of 2024. This is a full year ahead of the county’s goal of having broadband internet available all over the county by 2025.
Bub explained that the only way the county taxpayers will be on the hook for any costs from this deal is if Bug Tussel fails, its parent company (Hilbert Communications) fails, and AT& T fails. In addition, the estimated revenue for the county of allowing the company to use the borrowing capacity would be between $750,000 and $800,000.
“We will get all the money back plus more,” Bub said of the amount the county has already borrowed for internet expansion.
County board member Gene Knoll said he was especially pleased to see the expansion in the cellular coverage in the area as part of the plan. “I think we are all going to be happy if these devices work like they should,” he said holding his smartphone.
Board members unanimously approved the preliminary resolution authorizing Bug Tussel to use the county’s debt capacity. The step is necessary under state law and there will be a final resolution to be acted on at the April county board meeting.
Highway shop
A new highway shop serving the northeastern part of Taylor County will have a price tag of $3,145,654.
Huotari Construction of Medford was the low bidder on the shop and site work at $2,225,000 beating out SD Ellenbecker at $2,325,940. In addition to the general contractor, Comfort Systems Heating and Air Conditioning received the HVAC and fire protection bid at $225,000, Current Technologies was awarded the electrical construction bid at $156,900 and A to Z Plumbing of the plumbing bid at $175,524.
The bids were rejected for the salt shed portion of the project due to irregularities in the bids received. The county took the advice of the project engineers with CBS Squared and are working with Sourcewell to hire Greystone Construction to build the salt shed for $362,230.
Over a year ago, the county had approved borrowing up to $1,750,000 for the project. However the cost of the project has increased greatly since then leaving the county short on funding for it. The state is contributing about $280,000 to the overall project.
County board members on Friday voted to apply $1.4 million of the county’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to cover the difference. The county had previously allocated ARPA funds to go to the broadband project and will have about $900,000 remaining to use on other projects in the future.
ARPA funds came with restrictions on how they could be used. The county is justifying the use of the ARPA funds for the project due to to COVID-19 related supply chain issues and related inflation.
County board member Dave Roiger questioned if there were any provisions that the contractors would come in on time and on budget. County highway commission Ben Stanfley said there were provisions in the contracts for the work. He said none of the contractors have expressed any concerns with not meeting the project timeline to have the work completed by next winter.
In other business, board members
_ Tabled action on approving the contract for management of the county’s ambulance service with Aspirus. The contract is still under negotiations.
_ Approved an ordinance updating the the amount of staff allowed to work for each county department. Roiger questioned the ordinance noting that there seemed to be a large reduction compared to the previous ordinance totals. Human Resources Director Marie Koerner said the new ordinance reflects what the county already has in place.
County Board chairman Jim Metz (right) congratulates Gary Gretzinger for his 21years of service in the Taylor County Highway Department as a patrolman, grader operator and operations manager. During his time with the county he planned and managed over 205 miles of resurfacing projects and more than 172 miles of reconstruction projects.BRIAN WILSON/THE STAR NEWS
County Board chairman Jim Metz (right) congratulates Douglas Brost for his more than 30 years of service in the Taylor County Highway Department as a highway patrolman and paint crew leader. As a paint crew leader he painted more than 3,500 miles of highway each year.BRIAN WILSON/THE STAR NEWS
