Broadband system construction starts soon

POMEROY-The Port of Garfield Commissioner Cody Bye, and Port Director Diana Ruchert, the met with the Garfield County Commissioners to discuss the progress of the Port’s broadband system and the possible inclusion of the fairgrounds in the first phase of construction during last Tuesday, January 21. Ruchert provided a list of costs associated with the construction and reported that they have a signed contract with M&L Construction, Inc. out of Spokane to begin the work. M&L has been in business since 1972 and specializes in utility installations, including fiber optic networks. Their bid came in about $200,000 less than the competing bids. A pre-construction meeting is set for February 3 and construction will begin when the weather permits. The agreement has November, 2020, as the completion target.

County Commissioner Justin Dixon asked about the inclusion of the fairgrounds in the first phase of construction. Ruchert replied that the fairgrounds were never intended to be part of Phase 1, which was planned to end at Kirby Mayview Road. If the project had come in under $800,000, they could have considered including it, but the Port has realized that they are over budget for Phase 1, and the addition of the fairgrounds would cost $75,000 to $100,000 more, plus $200,000 to connect to the homes in the area surrounding the fairgrounds.

The Port will have to wait until they are financially able to include this area in the design of the broadband system, which may not be until 2021. Bye suggested that the Port could reassess the possibility again around June or July of 2020, to see if they are in a better financial position to add the fairgrounds to Phase 1 construction. Ruchert said that the Port commissioners would be meeting that evening and she would put the item on the agenda to be discussed.

Dixon inserted that the County has committed to a $100,000 contribution to the completion of the system, and they had previously discussed committing an additional $40,000 to include the fairgrounds in Phase 1. Ruchert explained that the Port was planning to apply for more grant funds, but were not able to meet the deadline, so no additional funds have been acquired at this time. Ruchert added that another obstacle to extending the broadband fiber to the fairgrounds is the fact that the utility poles along that section of the highway are not currently available to them.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) controls the use of the poles and the application and permitting process to obtain use of the poles is long and complicated. The DOT would require load studies to determine if it would even be possible for the Port to utilize the poles.

Ruchert also explained that they are getting pole approval as they proceed. Pacificorp has been very cooperative and is proving to be a good partner. However, Centurylink has not allowed the Port to use any of their poles. New poles can cost from $3,000 to $5,000 each, and may not always be placed where you need them.

At the meeting of the Port of Garfield County Commissioners Tuesday evening, January 21, 2020, it was agreed that they would again discuss the possibility of including the fairgrounds in Phase 1 at the June, 2020 meeting.