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Miami County economic development office details broadband rollouts, business outreach and local openings
Summary
Economic development staff briefed commissioners on a public Wi‑Fi rollout in Paola, Comcast and QuickCom broadband completions, upcoming business events and recent local business activity, and addressed public confusion about Hillsdale Lake hours.
Janet McCray, Miami County economic development, told the commission the county and partner cities are marking several broadband and business-development milestones and upcoming events.
"That public WiFi is a grant that we assisted them with," McCray said, describing a new public Wi‑Fi network centered on Town Square with expanded coverage around Wallace Park. She said parts of the Wallace Park zone will have limited late‑night access while the downtown area will be available 24 hours and that the network has "been through beta testing the last couple of weeks."
McCray said Comcast will hold a celebration for completion of its construction that extends service south of Paola through Hillsdale and across Highway 169. "At 3PM on the 23rd, Comcast will be doing their congratulations celebration for the completion of that multimillion dollar project," she said. She also said QuickCom has awarded "gigabit city" recognitions to Osawatomie and Paola for their fiber buildouts.
The county is planning business outreach events, McCray said. A business roundtable is scheduled for June 20 at noon at Timber Creek; about "32, 33 people" were registered at the time of her report. The county is also working on a "business basics in a day" class for July or possibly August depending on instructor availability.
McCray described a promotion involving a travel writer and blogger; the county and participating cities split the costs and the chamber covered additional expenses. "It was less than $350 for each of us to be able to do that," she said, and the visit produced about 80 photos the county may use for marketing.
McCray also addressed public confusion about Hillsdale Lake’s seasonal hours after federal information about U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staffing prompted calls. She clarified that Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks manages the park services and that the Corps’ staffing changes do not close the lake to visitors.
She provided brief updates on local business activity, including prospective openings: a Taco Bell application pending planning approvals, an ice cream shop in Paola expected to target mid to late July for opening if permitting proceeds, and redevelopment activity at a former Phoenix building in Louisburg with possible occupancy by mid‑July.
The county did not take action during the briefing; McCray said the events and projects are moving forward and noted dates and next steps for each item.
