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Van Buren County awarded OCIO broadband grant; $50,000 bridge-crossing lease proposed
Summary
The county received an OCIO broadband intervention-zone award for the Douds area and will work with C-M Tel to install fiber; C-M Tel proposed leasing river-bridge crossing rights for $50,000 and the board authorized staff to negotiate written agreements with C-M Tel and Windstream.
County IT Director Max Harlan reported on Dec. 9 that the Office of the Chief Information Officer awarded Van Buren County a broadband intervention-zone grant aimed at expanding high-speed internet in the northwest (Douds) area. Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative (C-M Tel) will handle fiber installation and indicated the fiber must cross the Des Moines River to reach the project area.
Harlan said C-M Tel proposed leasing the county’s bridge crossing right for either 100 years or for the life of the river bridge at a cost of $50,000. County Engineer Ryne Thornburg noted the county has not previously executed a written agreement with Windstream for fiber already on the bridge. The board gave consensus authorization for the county IT director and county engineer to work with C-M Tel and Windstream to establish written agreements.
