IAC Minutes 7-9-2020
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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
Internet Action Committee
Location: Online Streaming (Boxcast and GoToMeeting)
Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 6:00pm
Attendance: Cathy Mackiewicz, Chair Robert Wilmers, and John Carney
Absent: K. C. Douglas, and Vice Chair Marschall Smith.
Also in Attendance: City Council Liaison Patti Ray, City Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller,
City Administrator Ken Cammilleri, Justin Forde, Midco Senior Director of Government
Relations, and Melissa Wolf, Midco Government Relations Manager.
Call to Order – Chair Wilmers called the meeting to order at 6:05pm.
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Carney, seconded by Mackiewicz, to approve the agenda
but to move up the discussion of this year’s Midco Broadband expansion project and
discussion of the Broadband Expansion Plan to follow the approval of minutes. Motion
carried.
Approval of Minutes from June 11, 2020 – Motion by Carney, seconded by Mackiewicz to
approve the minutes of the June 11th meeting. Motion carried.
Update on the 2020 Minnesota DEED Broadband Expansion Grant Project with
MIDCO – Forde reported to the committee that construction has already started for the
project, and noted that in the near future, the City will be notified who the project
coordinator will be. Service connections will be rolling and will not be completed all at
once. Not all of the 270 service passings will be on lots with homes.
Prospects for the 2021 Minnesota DEED Broadband Expansion Grant and the Rural
Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) – Forde reported that Midco is still in the process of
identifying potential future expansion areas for inclusion in the DEED grant
application. Forde also noted that he could not confirm whether Midco’s participation on
RDOF will include Scandia. There are congressional discussions about expanding RDOF
funding, but this has not made any formal progress.
Midco Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Midco is coordinating with the City on a noon time
ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 16th to celebrate Scandia’s new Internet
expansion. A boxed lunch will be served to all attendees. A invitees list has been sent to
Midco which includes Mayor, City Council, City Administrator, Deputy Clerk, Internet
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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
Action Committee members, EDA Commissioners , Bill Strusinski, Bob Dettmer, Karin
Housley, and Tom Emmer. Location has yet to be determined. Midco will have a table at
the Famers Market that day. An evening event will include a possible contest at Lilleskogen
Park with children writing stories about the Internet. Ray will meet with Principal Julie Hull
to discuss. A boxed dinner from a local vendor will be served to approximately 250 people.
Update on Community Center Wireless Internet Improvements – Cammilleri reported
that the public wireless network is now up and running. Staff will be working to make
additional improvements, but the network has strong reception inside the Community
Center and in the parking lot. He also noted that the Washington County Library System
will be making hotspots available for checkout to help those with limited access to the
internet.
Discussion and review of 1st draft of the Scandia Broadband Expansion Plan – The
Committee discussed the challenges of adopting a map as part of its expansion
plan. Wilmers noted that it would be impossible to develop an expansion map that would
reliably convey what would be a likely expansion area, short of a committed and funded
project. The Committee agreed that it would be best to inform the community of current
progress and anticipated activities through a page on the City’s website and providing
PowerPoint updates as significant developments occur.
Discussion of Mitigating Installation Costs for Properties with Large Home Setbacks –
Wilmers noted that one way to mitigate the costs of running long service lines to homes
might be by creating a wireless “hop” solution. The option only requires that there is
electricity available to power a modem and a wireless device to get the internet connection to
a home.
Discussion of Signal Boosting LTE Devices – Kronmiller shared Sprint’s Magic Box
which helps boost data signals and helps increase wireless speeds.
Definitions - The committee looked at the definitions provided in the packet and identified
some areas for further follow up with Midco.
Next Meeting Date – The Committee agreed to hold its next meeting on Thursday, August
13, 2020 at 6:00pm. The meeting will be conducted electronically and telephonically if the
Governor’s Executive Order continues the existing requirements.
Adjournment – The Committee adjourned at 7:30pm upon successful motion by Carney,
seconded by Mackiewicz.
Minutes Prepared by:
Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator