3. June 15 Meeting Minutes
14727 209th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com
CITY OF SCANDIA
INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Thursday, June 15, 6:30 p.m.
Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street North
Attendance: Bob Wilmers, Steve Collier, John Carney, and Patti Ray. Absent: Marschall Smith.
Also in Attendance: City Administrator Kyle Morell. Absent: Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller.
Call to Order – The meeting was called to order by Chair Wilmers at 6:30 pm.
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Ray, seconded by Carney, to approve the agenda with the additions of
Washington County Funding Update, Funding Spreadsheet Update, and Midco Day Update. Motion
Carried 4-0.
Approval of Minutes - The May 18, 2023, meeting minutes were approved on a Motion by Ray, seconded
by Wilmers. Motion Carried 3-0. Collier abstained.
Public Comments - No comments were offered.
Midco Big Marine Project Update – Melissa Wolf from Midco joined the meeting over Zoom to update the
Committee on the following items:
1) Big Marine Lake Project – The City approved the project Agreement in May. Midco will begin
construction on the project in late 2023 or 2024, depending on how fast the design work can be
completed.
2) Line Extension Program – Midco received numerous requests through this program. Six requests are
either serviceable or will be serviced by the Big Marine Lake Project. Midco does not currently serve
eighty of the requests but is evaluating the cost of providing service. Grant applications for this
program are due at the end of July. Larger grouped areas within this program are better served by
DEEDs Boarder to Boarder Program, which will announce a grant opportunity in September 2023.
3) Finishing Out Community – The release of federal funding through the Broadband Equity, Access,
and Deployment (BEAD) Program will determine Midco’s ability to complete fiber expansion
through the rest of the City. The program has five years to disburse funds. Midco will know more in
late 2024 or early 2025.
Capital Investment Committee Request Update – Morell informed the Committee that he relayed their request
for $250,000 in funding for 2024 and 2025, which the CIC received and included in the draft CIP. Since that
meeting, Morell has reduced the amount by $25,000 yearly to accommodate projects in other CIP funds. The
Committee reiterated its belief that the entire request should be honored to be able to respond to new grant
opportunities that may arise. Committee Chairman Wilmers will attend the next CIC meeting to push the
Committees requested amount.
Scandia Internet Action Committee Draft Minutes
May 18, 2023
Page 2 of 2
Frontier Update – Todd Kruse, from Frontier Government Relations and Community Outreach office, called
into the meeting to discuss Frontier’s ability to provide service to Scandia. Morell will follow up with Todd next
week and report back to the Committee about Frontier’s ability to service the residents of Scandia.
East Central Energy Project Update – Wilmers informed the Committee that ECE is installing fiber throughout
their electrical network, which reaches approximately 20 – 25 homes in northwest Scandia. The project is
scheduled to take five years.
Washington County Funding -Ray updated the Committee on the state of funding from Washington County.
They, like Midco, are awaiting the release of state and federal funding for the next round of grants.
Internet Expansion Cost Summary – Ray provided updates for the Cost Summary spreadsheet kept and
presented by Councilmember Kronmiller at the May meeting. Ray estimates that Midco has contributed $779,500
towards internet expansion in Scandia from 2020 to 2022. That amount breaks down as follows:
2020 – 31 homes at an estimated $2,500 per house for a total of $77,500
2021 – 83 homes at an estimated $5,000 per house for a total of $415,000
2022 – 41 homes at an estimated $7,000 per house for a total of $287,000
Midco Day – Scheduled for Wednesday, August 23. The event features a story contest at Lilleskogen Park and
burgers at the Farmer’s Market. Three hundred green bags will be distributed. Burgers will be served at the Park,
and the IAC will hand out ice cream bars at their booth at the Farmer’s Market. The Committee will work with
Midco to arrange for residents who do not have service with Midco to sign-up.
Next Areas for Expansion and Timing – The Committee agreed that without updated information on future
funding programs, it was impossible to discuss areas for expansion and timing accurately.
Internet Action Committee Charter – Ray suggested the Committee review and amend its’ Charter since some
of the stated goals and objectives are now outdated. The Committee agreed to forward suggested changes to
Morell, who will compile them for review at the next meeting.
Items for Future Discussion – The Committee asked to include Midco Day, Charter Review, funding updates
from Midco and Washington County, CIP discussion, and finding a replacement for Committee member Collier,
who will resign shortly.
Next Meeting – The committee noted that its next regular meeting would be held Thursday, July 20, 2023, at
6:30 PM at the Community Center.
Adjournment – Motion by Wilmers, seconded by Ray, to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 pm. Motion carried 4-0.
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Kyle Morell, City Administrator