Commissioners report surge in food‑bank demand, broadband progress and health‑insurance enrollment update

Commissioners used their reports to flag rising local need at food pantries, give a status update on broadband outreach and describe early results from the county’s employee health‑insurance open‑enrollment.

Tom, a county commissioner, said the Mountain Air Food Bank ran a program that served 406 families on a recent distribution day and that, combined with additional pantry distributions, county partners assisted 556 families last weekend — substantially more than the program’s usual ~250 families. He thanked volunteers and local partners and urged residents to contact pantries about specific needs rather than defaulting to canned goods.

Commissioners also discussed broadband project follow‑up after a constituent reported a fiber line routed through private property. County staff contacted a Frontier representative who identified the contractor and project manager and provided contact information so the resident and contractor could resolve the issue. A commissioner said the county’s seed funding for extending lines appears to be spurring competition and additional provider options in areas where projects have been built.

On employee health insurance, commissioners said they are holding an informational webinar for employees. One commissioner described completing the enrollment portal and finding choices comparable to the prior plan and reported that, of the initial enrollees reviewed, all but one would likely pay less next year.

Separately, a commissioner reported the county completed closing documents for the purchase of the former Salvation Army site on University Avenue; the county now owns a vacant lot and adjacent parking and will evaluate future uses.

The meeting concluded after routine business; commissioners moved to adjourn.