Loading...
08.c IAC Minutes 05 19 2022 draft CITY OF SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes Thursday, May 19, 2022 6:30 p.m. Location: Online Streaming (Boxcast and Zoom) and Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street North In Attendance: John Carney; Steve Collier; K.C. Douglas; and Chair Robert Wilmers. Absent: Vice Chair Marschall Smith. Others in Attendance: City Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller and City Administrator Ken Cammilleri. Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 6:37pm by Chair Wilmers. Approval of Agenda - Motion Wilmers Carney Motion carried. Approval of Minutes from the April 21, 2022 meeting. The committee agreed by consensus to table the meeting minutes to the next meeting. Public Comments – No public comments were offered. Discussion and consideration Scandia Internet Update for website - Kronmiller noted his concerns regarding which totals are used. He suggested that a decision should be made as to using number of residential uses or number of addresses. The current report in the packet has a number of services of 852, which is a figure that individual units that could be on the same property. 743 would be the number of services added per address or parcel. The Following is a summary of additional Midco broadband buildouts as discussed by the Committee: Year Number of Houses Connected 2020 171 houses 2021 255 houses 2022 161 proposed houses to be added This 2022 proposed buildout with Midco includes 161 proposed buildouts, which includes one business. DRAFT Scandia Internet Action Committee May 19, 2022 Page 2 of 4 DRAFT (Map provided by Midco to the City) The City of Scandia and Washington County are providing Grant funding for a build area as shown above as Area A in green, which includes 48 houses. The project area in the north central part of the City, shown in green as Area C has 33 houses, and the buildout on Scandia Trail N, shown as area B in green has 33 homes for a total of 161 houses to be served in this project. It was noted that this year’s buildout includes 47 houses that will be covered by the Federal Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF) and the remaining 114 houses for this year are to be covered by City of Scandia and Washington County grants. Overall,the number of houses that received Midco broadband between 2020 and 2021, and the estimated households to be added in 2022, it is estimated that the aggregate total of houses added is 584. When comparing the 743 houses that already had Midco services prior to the City’s involvement in internet expansion that leaves an estimated 464 houses remaining if 2022 is completed as proposed. Scandia Internet Action Committee May 19, 2022 Page 3 of 4 DRAFT Total project cost for 2022 is estimated at $578,736 for direct build Area A. The breakdown of cost shares is as follows: Participant Cost Share % Share of Cost Midco $259,736 44.9% City of Scandia Direct Grant $219,000 (previously $319k prior to Washington County grant participation) 37.8% Washington County Grant $100,000 17.3% TOTAL $578,736 The estimated cost per individual build for this project is $5,076.63. It is anticipated that this cost will go up as Midco typically self supports buildouts that are estimated by the City to between $2,000 and $2,500. As result, the Committee has anticipated the grant support needs will increase as build areas include lower densities and larger distances. The Committee recommended that the $100,000 savings from the 2022 buildout, courtesy of Washington County’s Grant participation, should go into the 2023 grant buildout proposed budget. The committee further recommended by consensus that this updated data be included in a website update along with making changes to the Internet Update Page to better find the City’s estimated progress map. Latest on LTD Broadband Issues in Minnesota – The Committee discussed the news article included in the packet as LTD Broadband has been awarded RDOF broadband grant funding for buildout. It was noted that the company is facing a challenge filed with the State’s Utilities Commission, which asserts the company lacks the resources and capacities necessary to complete their broadband obligations under the Federal RDOF program. The FCC may also drop this grant award as they are still evaluating if the company has the necessary capacity to carry out the build area included in their RDOF grant reverse auction bid award. The Committee noted that they will continue to follow this issue as the company was awarded census block areas within the City that include areas that it has identified as yet to receive broadband. Update and discussion on the 2022 Midco Buildout Pan Proposal – It was reported that Buildout Area C conduit installation have been completed and that work is in progress running fiber and placing pedestals in this service area. Construction started in late May, which was noted to earlier then prior years. Discussion and Consideration of Continued Planning for Broadband Buildout - Wilmers reported on a discussion with Justin Forde at Midco to confirm that we are taking the right steps to get things done. He indicated that things are working right, and that Scandia is having an above average take rate for service assuring that Scandia offers a good return on investments. Small enough that does not require higher expenditure approval which would explain why Midco is only completing limited buildout. Wilmers noted that normal incremental buildout is more advantageous. The Committee requested that Cammilleri check with the County to see if there are more funds in the program to apply for next year. Scandia Internet Action Committee May 19, 2022 Page 4 of 4 DRAFT The Committee discussed the possibility of getting a petition to extend service along Maxwill Avenue N. Collier volunteered to help get signatures. Items for Future Discussion - Recommendations for 2023 and 2024 Projects, further discussion on areas discussion, a Midco Day Update, and updates on progress of this year’s buildout activities. Next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Adjournment - Motion by Carney, seconded by Douglas, to adjourn the meeting at 7:48pm. Motion carried.