IAC Minutes 01092020Page 1 of 2
City of Scandia
14727 209 th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
Minutes
Internet Action Committee
Location: Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street N.
Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 6:00pm
Member Attendance - Chair Bob Wilmers; Marshall Smith; John Carney; K.C. Douglas; and
Cathy Mackiewicz
Others in Attendance - City Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller; City Council Liaison Patti
Ray; City Administrator Ken Cammilleri
Absent - None
Call to Order – Chair Wilmers called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Approval of Minutes from January 3, 2019 meeting – The item was tabled by unanimous
consent as it was unavailable for review.
Selection of Vice Chairman – Motion by Mackiewicz, seconded by Wilmers, to appoint
Marshall Smith to be Vice Chair. Motion carried.
Right-Sizing of Committee – Members by unanimous consent recommended that the
committee size was appropriate as it is.
Deed Grant Application - The Committee discussed the status of the Minnesota DEED
Grant Application with MIDCO to extend internet services to select neighborhoods in
Scandia. No additional information was available as DEED has not yet awarded any grants
for this awards cycle.
Subordinate Service Districts – The Committee discussed the feasibility and practicality of
making use of subordinate service districts as a means to finance internet infrastructure. The
Committee agreed that if such a mechanism were to be used, it would require the
partnership of local ISPs. It was further agreed that efforts should be made to promote a
legislative bill that would empower the City of Scandia to make possible use of this tool.
Committee members requested copies of the legislation and previously proposed
compromises to enhance its chances of advancing through the State Legislature. Cammilleri
was requested to share this information with committee members. This item will be revised
at the Committee’s next meeting in order to sort out a position that can be presented at
potential a future City Council.
Status of Local ISP planned buildouts - Committee members agreed that the Committee
needs to obtain a better picture of the full extent of expansion plans by both MIDCO and
Frontier Communications in order clarify what areas of the community expected not to be
served. Wilmers and Ray volunteered to reach out to the representatives of both internet
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Page 2 of 2
City of Scandia
14727 209 th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
service providers. The Committee indicated that it required this information in order to
identify the parameters and costs required to meeting the needs of those who are outside of
planned service expansion area.
Community Outreach & Communication – Committee members agreed that the group will
need to utilize the City’s website, Facebook page, and local newspapers to provide the
community with comprehensive information what efforts the City is taking to tackle the
issue of access to reliable internet. The Committee agreed to start by reviewing information
already available to put together its first comprehensive update on addressing internet
shortage.
Community Center Upgrade and Public Internet Use – Committee members requested that
staff investigate how to make improvements to the City’s existing internet infrastructure to
enhance internet availability both within the City’s Community Center and on the grounds.
Staff will work with Committee members to identify a proposal on improvements. The
Committee also recommended that the city make the Heritage Room available to people
who need access to the internet, potentially during City Hall hours.
Self-Funded Expansion Opportunities – Members discussed ways to identify potential
neighborhoods that might be good candidates to bring together to colaberate on self-
funding the infrastructure need to serve their areas. Members agreed that they would start
by identifying neighborhoods that are best positioned to take advantage of this opportunity.
The Committee members agreed to hold their next meeting on Thursday, January 23rd at
6:00pm.
Adjournment – meeting adjourned by motion of Wilmers, seconded by Carney at 8:58pm.
Minutes prepared by
KEN CAMMILLERI
City Administrator/Clerk
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