12. Emails RE Washington County Broadband Grant ContactFrom: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2022 2:00 PM
To: robert.wilmers@icloud.com
Cc: Justin Forde; p.ray
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
Hi Bob –
The homes on Paris outside of the state grant are figured in below, in the Midco RDOF since we had to
remove them due to RDOF. So the 170 homes number is correct. Let me know if you have questions!
Melissa
Melissa Wolf
Government Relations Manager
Office: 6512145493
Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com
Midco.com
From: Robert Wilmers <robert.wilmers@icloud.com>
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2022 10:01 AM
To: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Cc: Justin Forde <Justin.Forde@Midco.com>; p.ray <p.ray@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
Melissa,
One more question about the 2021 expansion.
There was another group of homes done by MidCo adjacent to the DEED area. Paris Avenue? Maybe
another 10 homes? I don’t see that included. Can you confirm?
Thanks,
Bob
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 17, 2022, at 11:46 AM, Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@midco.com> wrote:
Great catch Bob! I did not include this area as it was completed by our corporate
construction team. The area on 239th was another 12 homes. So in total, 170 homes in
2021. Thank you for the reminder!
Melissa Wolf
Government Relations Manager
Office: 6512145493
Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com
Midco.com
From: robert.wilmers@icloud.com <robert.wilmers@icloud.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 4:41 PM
To: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Cc: Justin Forde <Justin.Forde@Midco.com>; 'p.ray' <p.ray@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
Melissa,
Quick question… Does the 158 HH in 2021 include the homes on 239th that we talked
about? This was the street an administrator from Chisago lives and these homes were
picked up from that expansion. Just want to make sure we count those as served as part
of our data.
Thanks,
Bob
From: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 11:11 AM
To: robert.wilmers@icloud.com
Cc: Justin Forde <Justin.Forde@Midco.com>; 'p.ray' <p.ray@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
Thanks Bob! I will get the request into GIS for the list of addresses.
Melissa Wolf
Government Relations Manager
Office: 6512145493
Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com
Midco.com
From: robert.wilmers@icloud.com <robert.wilmers@icloud.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 1:03 PM
To: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Cc: Justin Forde <Justin.Forde@Midco.com>; Robert Wilmers
<robert.wilmers@icloud.com>; 'p.ray' <p.ray@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for this information. I’ll present at our meeting tomorrow. I know we’ll be asked
to provide the addresses to be served as part of the 2022 project. I don’t need them for
the meeting but it will be required as the direct aid contract is drawn up.
We are very happy to continue our constructive relationship with MidCo.
Best Regards,
Bob
From: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 10:34 AM
To: p.ray <p.ray@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Cc: robert.wilmers@icloud.com; Justin Forde <Justin.Forde@Midco.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
Thank you Patti! This is very helpful and I will make sure I get this to our internal teams
as well as some of the other areas/information we discussed. I will also take a look at
the county’s website and see if they have notes or video from yesterday.
As a follow up from our conversation, attached is the updated map, let me know if you
have any questions or concerns. Below is a breakdown of what we discussed and a
recap of what we did in Scandia in 2021. Also below is some information on the current
state of supply chain and market pressures on our industry. Let me know if this is
helpful, you have questions or how Justin or I can be helpful!
2021 Recap:
- State Grant area – 78 homes
- Midco RDOF – 16 homes
- City/Midco project on St. Croix Trail – 64
- Total homes – 158 homes
- The project on St. Croix Trail was slightly delayed and overbudget, which Midco
picked up, due to the rocky terrain. We still completed this project by the end of
2021. This area currently has access to 5G speeds which was the fastest
Connected Nation had ever seen. In addition, since activation at the end of
December, we have 38 active customers out of a total of 66, a 57% take rate in
only two months (does not account for any customers added in March)!
2022 Proposal:
- Oakhill Road – 48 homes
- NW Scandia (outside RDOF) – 33 homes
- Scandia Trail – 33 homes (5 of which are RDOF and are not included in proposed
project areas costs)
- Midco RDOF – 47 homes (all covered by RDOF and Midco)
Total homes – 161 homes
Total homes in proposed project areas – 109
Total homes covered by Midco RDOF – 52
Total project costs - $578,736
Midco portion - $259,736 (44 percent)
Scandia portion - $319,000
Lastly, the current state of the world and our economy has placed enormous pressures
on our business and the capacity of our construction teams. With inflation, marketing
altering amounts of funding, supply chain and resource issues, the costs for Midco and
other companies to do business and complete projects has risen drastically. We are
seeing shortages of the raw materials needed for manufacturing and the most recent
news surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which has resulted in sanctions has
increased this. There is also concern for freight and fleet and the ability to move
products globally, which has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic began. In short,
the issues surrounding part shortages, long lead times and freight price increases have
put pressure on and pinched our constructions teams capabilities. We are working
diligently and proactively to keep in touch with our suppliers and ensure we are in a
good position now and moving forward. Our procurement and supply chain teams are
on top of all global issues that may affect us, but we are in an uncertain and
unprecedented time that does not come without impacts.
Thank you both so much for the wonderful discussion and continued support of Midco!
We are very proud of our partnership with the City of Scandia!
Melissa
Melissa Wolf
Government Relations Manager
Office: 6512145493
Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com
Midco.com
From: p.ray <p.ray@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 12:20 PM
To: Melissa Wolf <Melissa.Wolf@Midco.com>
Cc: robert.wilmers@icloud.com; Justin Forde <Justin.Forde@Midco.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - Washington County Broadband Grant Contact
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of MIDCO.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
content is safe.
Hi Melissa,
It was great to see you again this morning. Congratulation on Baby Jack; I
definitely need to see a photo of him!
My contact at Washington County is Tabatha Hansen, Director of Accounting and
Financing, e-mail: Tabatha.Hansen@co.washington.mn.us, phone: 651-430-
6027. I know they are in a work session today discussing their broadband grant
program.
Scandia City Council's budget for Broadband Expansion for 2023 is $332,051 and
for 2024 is $281,216. I think we should relook at 2024 and possibly raise that
figure.
I will email you the updated road construction schedule as soon as I have it.
All the bests,
Patti
Patti Ray
Scandia City Council Member