County votes to terminate long-dormant fiber optic joint powers board

The Pine County Board approved a termination agreement for the fiber-optic joint powers board that years ago coordinated installation of fiber among local government entities including the city, the school district and Pine Technical College. County officials said the joint board’s original purpose — to provide dark fiber connectivity between government entities in Pine City — was fulfilled and that Midco later purchased and provided for continued use. The county reported it had no cash invested in the joint powers entity and that the city recovered its conduit investment through a lease and subsequent asset sale to Midco. Commissioners said they did not see a reason to keep a dormant joint board on the books and authorized the board chair and county administrator to sign a termination agreement. No county funds were returned as part of the termination; county network connectivity to Midco remains in place under existing arrangements.