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Grant County adopts broadband IDZ ordinance, adds 18-foot mid-span clearance requirement
Summary
After a public hearing, commissioners passed ordinance 10-20-24 to establish an Infrastructure Development Zone for broadband deployment to encourage county-wide fiber deployment; the board added language requiring a minimum 18-foot mid-span clearance to address farmers' equipment concerns.
The Grant County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 voted to adopt ordinance 10-20-24, establishing an Infrastructure Development Zone (IDZ) to allow tax-exempt treatment for certain broadband infrastructure and to support a proposed countywide fiber build by Mainstream. The vote followed a public hearing that drew questions on term length, burial vs. aerial installation, and mid-span clearances for farm equipment.
Why it matters: The IDZ is intended to make broadband buildout across underserved and unserved parts of Grant County more financially viable by permitting certain business personal property tax exemptions tied to infrastructure investment. Presenters said the proposal would reach areas otherwise unlikely to be served and that the company is not seeking upfront county funding.
What was discussed: Mainstreamrepresentative Fred Price described a proposed countywide deployment and said the company typically seeks a 10-year IDZ term for underwriting; commissioners and public commenters debated whether five years would be more typical for abatements. Farmers and council representatives raised concerns about hanging lines interfering with farm equipment; several speakers and the company agreed to include an 18-foot mid-span minimum clearance requirement. The company said it will comply with local highway and utility coordination, install poles or attach to existing poles as needed, and use local inspection processes where required.
Public input and conditions: Councilman Middlesworth and other members of the public urged a shorter abatement term and explicit commitments on burial where feasible; the board and company agreed to clarify installation standards and to add the 18-foot mid-span language into the ordinance via counsel before final execution. The company said it will seek BEAD/state funding and that its proposal is contingent on state awards.
Next steps: County attorney will insert the agreed language (including the 18-foot mid-span minimum) and return the ordinance for signature; the company will proceed with state funding requests and coordinate with county highway and utilities for installations.
Representative quote: "If we don't do something, we're not going to have anything," said a commissioner advocating for the 10-year term, adding the build would bring broadband without upfront county cash. A member of the public urged setting a five-year abatement; the board adopted the ordinance with the agreed edits.
Ending: The board passed ordinance 10-20-24 with the added 18-foot mid-span requirement and authorized counsel to finalize the language.
