By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
Where to locate the cable to help bring high speed internet to portions of Wayne County highlighted Tuesday's meeting of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.
Rob Vinson with Fastwyre Broadband, and Paul Schudel, an attorney for the company, spoke to the commissioners on a request to install a fiber optic broadband network in an area around Carroll.
The company is requesting permission to install the fiber optic cable in the ditches along approximately 70 miles of roads in the area.
Schudel quoted several state statues in regard to the company's rights to install the fiber optic cable along roadways.
Fastwyre representatives have been to previous commissioner meetings asking for the ability to install the cable in the ditch rather than down the road as the county has requested.
"We are trying to do this (installation) in a way that is the least burdensome and to minimize problems and the need to replace the cable," Schudel said. He questioned the county's request that the cable be buried eight feet underground.
Highway Superintendent Mark Casey said the county only requires that the cable be buried three-to four feet underground unless it is going under a culvert.
Debate centered on the added costs of drilling at a deeper depth and what other counties across the state require.
Requests for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were approved during Tuesday's meeting.
These included:
• $5,613.20 to the village of Hoskins for a fire siren controller. This will be compatible with equipment used by the city of Norfolk, which provides dispatch services to Hoskins.
• $33,056.11 to the village of Carroll for a weather siren. This will replace one the village has that is not currently operational and will allow for sirens to be heard within a mile of the village. It will be compatible with equipment used by the city of Wayne.
•$49,682.77 to KTCH Radio station for a generator. This will allow the radio station to stay on the air in the event of a power outage in the area.
• $47,520.00 to the Wayne Agriculture Society for concrete to complete work on the bleacher area at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. It will allow for work on handicap accessibility and ramps in the bleacher area.
Commissioner Dean Burbach shared his concerns with the fact that the Ag Society had already received funds for the bleacher project.
In conjunction with the distribution of ARPA funds for Wayne County, commissioners approved a consulting services agreement with Sandra Hansen for the work she has, and is continuing to do, with the grant application process for allocating the funds.
Hansen told the commissioners that with the funds allocated at Tuesday's meeting, there is $339,833 left of the money that was allocated to Wayne County. All projects granted funds need to be completed by September of 2026.
She noted that many of the projects that have been awarded funds are still in the process
In other action, bids for bridge project C-90 (653), known as the Wavy bridge, were opened during the meeting.
Highway Superintendent Mark Casey told the commissioners that four bids were received for the project. He outlined the process and said the county had worked with Mainelli Wagner & Associates on specifications and a timeline for the work to be completed.
The bids ranged from a low of $1,453,456 from Dixon Construction in Correctionville, Iowa to $1,792,933.66 from JJK Construction in Ceresco. Other bids were submitted by Graves Construction of Spencer, Iowa ($1,541,919.20) and KEA of Milford ($1,643,541.97).
The work will include installing a 140 foot bridge southwest of Wayne.
Both Casey and the commissioners stated they would like to look over the bids and check the amounts with representatives from Mainelli before actually awarding the bid. The awarding will take place at the next regular meeting.
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, May 16 at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of the Wayne County Courthouse.
