08.c DRAFT IAC Minutes 08 18 2022
CITY OF SCANDIA
INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes
Thursday, August 18, 2022
6:30 p.m.
Location: Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street N., Scandia
and Online Streaming (Boxcast and Zoom)
Attendance: Chair Robert Wilmers., Smith, John Carney, K.C. Douglas, and Steve Collier
Also in Attendance: City Council Liaison Patti Ray, City Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller and City
Administrator Ken Cammilleri.
Absent: Vice Chair Marschall Smith.
Called to Order – The meeting is called to order by Chair Wilmers at 6:34 pm.
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Carney, Seconded by Douglas to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes – Motion by Douglas, seconded by Carney, to approve the minutes from the July
17, 2022 meeting. Motion carried with amendment to reflect Collier’s absence.
Public Comments – There were no public comments offered.
Legislative Update – Wilmers reported that LTD Broadband had recently been disqualified from
RDOF. $640,000 is the remaining grant finding from Washington County’s Broadband Expansion
Grant. Carney also noted that there may be funding worked out through the recent bi-partisan
infrastructure grant.
2022 Midco Grant – The City’s 2022 grant from Midco was approved by the City Council on Tuesday,
and was signed and mailed today. Wilmers noted that there is a link to sign up that could be shared on the
city website with a map to encourage a take rate.
Douglas also reported that installation of fiber and conduit are being installed in her neighborhood along
238th Street N.
Frontier Grant and Midco Challenge to the 2022 Border-to-Border Broadband Grant – Frontier has
submitted a grant application for up 900 locations in and outside of Scandia with up to 2 gigs symmetrical
data speeds. Wilmers noted concerns about the continued use of aging copper wires. He noted that Forde
had asked why the City did not alert them to this. Wilmers noted that we wanted to be respectful of
competition to maintain trust. Midco had committed to work in Isanti County and Forest Lake, and
determined a greater customer need elsewhere. The Committee noted that both ISPs involvement in
Scandia is a good opportunity for the City. It was further noted that there are unknowns how Midco’s
challenges of Frontier’s submissions will affect this grant, and it will also potentially affect the 2024
buildout. Midco is currently preparing a grant application to Washington County for a grant for the 2023
year.
Scandia Internet Action Committee DRAFT Minutes
August 18, 2022
Page 2 of 2
The Committee discussed the challenge considerations on behalf of Midco to Frontier’s state grant
application. The committee agreed to offer Frontier the opportunity to utilize the City’s maps to prevent
over-buildout or duplicated buildouts. Wilmers agreed to make that contact. Midco requested that the
City would be willing to consider supporting their challenge, the Committee agreed that they would need
to see Midco’s challenges before offering formal support. The City’s goal is to get as much internet to all
homes by 2024.
Wilmers will not be available for the meeting in September, but Vice Chair Smith will continue to
coordinate preparations.
Midco Day – The City received 300 red reusable market bags, the storyboard prizes, and the meal
tokens. The Storyboard Contest will be open to 2nd through 6th graders, and the Scandia Parks and
Recreation Committee will judge the contest. Meister's burgers and cookies will also be served. Besides
the children’s prizes for their stories, $250 will be awarded to the teacher of the student who wins the
contest. The expenses, including photographer services, will be covered by Midco. The contest and
picnic gathering activities will take place from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Cammilleri was instructed to call the Scandia Mercantile to order ice cream bars, to purchase ice from the
liquor store or co-op, have a laptop ready for lookups, request Public Works to set up the canopy by and
have the internet action committee banner, string for securing the banner, and weights to weigh the tent
down 2:45pm. He was also requested to arrange for a portable toilet for Lilleskogen Park for the day of
the event and to request that the Fire Department make available its mobile PA system, again. The Lions
Club picnic tables would be picked up and returned by Public Works.
Kronmiller volunteered to print the 2022 project buildout map and a pre-2022 buildout map. Both
documents are to be accompanied by a list of addresses. Wilmers and Kronmiller volunteered to work the
tent from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, and the rest of the Committee agreed to also help staff the tent during the
course of the Farmer’s Market. Committee members were also offered the opportunity to assist with the
Story Board Event and Picnic at Lilleskogen Park.
Cammilleri was requested to reserve the Main Hall at the Community Center for use as an alternate on the
31st, in case of bad weather.
Items for Future Discussion – Respond to the Challenge to Frontier application from Midco.
Next Meeting – Wilmers reminded members that the next IAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday,
September 15, 2022 at 6:30pm at the Community Center. Midco Day will be Wednesday, August 31,
2022.
Adjournment – Motion by Wilmers, seconded by Carney to adjourn the meeting at 7:25pm. Motion
carried.
Minutes prepared by:
Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator