Hutchinson County court approves submission of fiber-optic grant application for library branches

HUTCHINSON COUNTY, Texas — The Hutchinson County Commissioners Court voted to approve submission of a grant application to extend fiber-optic service to all three county library branches and authorized staff to make final edits and sign certification documents to meet the application deadline.

The court approved pursuing a TSLAC-related grant that would let the county “piggyback” on Region 16’s fiber project to bring high-speed connections to the library buildings. Nancy, a library staff member who led the presentation, told the court the grant request totals $250,000 to run fiber to the buildings, with an additional potential $100,000 available for equipment inside the buildings.

Why it matters: County libraries serve K–12 online students, English-language classes and other community programs that rely on reliable broadband. Court members emphasized the need to avoid service gaps during elections and discussed long-term lease and monthly costs should the grant be awarded.

The court’s discussion and next steps

Nancy said Region 16 will act as project manager and that the fiber vendor Region 16 contracted—referred to as “Fiber Lit” in the meeting—would prepare the statement of work and specifications so the county can solicit bids if required. She said potential timelines, if funded, would run roughly July through November 2026 and that Region 16 estimated a lease cost in the $200–$300 per month range for its own service; the county was given a rough guesstimate of $300–$500 monthly but Nancy said she would request clarification whether that is a single consolidated cost or per site.

Nancy told the court that Region 16 and the Amarillo Area Foundation helped complete the application and that the filing deadline was the same night. The court agreed to give Nancy authority to make amendments and submit the application, with the understanding she would email any substantive revisions to the court before submission.

Court members asked about installation details: Nancy said Region 16/the contracted company would manage installation and work with each facility to avoid interfering with existing infrastructure, and noted the courthouse and several branches are historic or sit near utilities where care is required. Richard, a county staff member referenced in the discussion, had been involved in earlier coordination, Nancy said.

Costs, overlapping service and operations

Nancy said the grant would pay to bring fiber to the building exterior; the extra $100,000 could pay for interior and equipment costs. She said Region 16 estimated a 36-month lease and that the county could transition service when the grant-funded connection is ready. Nancy also noted that the annex would be costly to connect and likely not part of this project.

The court voted to approve the application process, partner with Region 16, and give Nancy authority to make adjustments and submit the application on the county’s behalf. Nancy said she had a certification paper for the court to sign and would circulate it.

Ending

Court members expressed support for reducing the county’s multiple Internet bills and for redundancy at some branches. Nancy will circulate the final application and send the certification for signatures.