Pine County authorizes signers for USDA Reconnect reporting on East-of-Hinckley broadband project

The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing county staff to sign and certify submissions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture ReConnect online intake system so the county can meet quarterly reporting requirements for the broadband project east of Hinckley.

Lehi Sauter, appearing on the meeting line, told the board the resolution is needed so the county administrator, the county’s authorized representative and designated staff can submit quarterly draw and progress reports for the ReConnect grant. “This resolution is is purely so that we can report, quarterly on on the activity,” Sauter said.

Sauter said the county has been preparing to submit its first quarterly report and that the contractor (identified in the record as SCI) is awaiting federal preapproval of engineering documents so construction drawdowns can begin. She said the contractor has been preparing engineering documents for federal review and that the first drawdown must include documentation for pre-construction engineering costs.

Commissioner Holland moved the resolution (recorded as 2025-20) and Commissioner Nelson seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

Board action: the resolution authorizes the county administrator, the project administrator and designated staff to act as authorized representatives and certifiers in USDA’s online system so Pine County can submit required reports and requests for reimbursement as work proceeds.

Sauter told commissioners that, because federal funding rules require detailed documentation, SCI must have its engineering preapproved so the first drawdown can be submitted and reimbursed; once that step is complete, she said construction-related drawdowns can follow. Sauter said the first quarter had little to report and that staff will continue paperwork and compliance tasks to keep the project ready for construction.