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Bug Tussel updates Price County on delayed broadband and emergency radio tower project
Summary
Bug Tussel told the Price County Board that a planned six-site tower and broadband project is delayed about two years, with roughly $15 million in bond funding allocated but released only as work is completed; the company said a decision point is expected in 90–120 days.
Jesse Lane, vice president of strategic development for Bug Tussel, briefed the Price County Board on the company’s multi-site communications tower and broadband project, saying the effort has been delayed and communication about timelines has been poor. The plan identifies six proposed tower sites to support emergency communications, public safety radio systems, and some wireless internet service; Lane said the county’s emergency radio system is nearing end-of-life and should be replaced or upgraded within the next two years.
Lane acknowledged leadership and staffing changes at Bug Tussel and apologized for the lack of clarity about timing. He said about $15 million in bond funding is allotted for the project but is tightly controlled and only released as work is completed; minimal funds have been drawn so far for early engineering and planning. Bug Tussel indicated ongoing negotiations with third-party wireless co-locators and vendors are a primary source of the delay and told the board it expects a critical decision point within 90–120 days to inform budget timing for late summer or early fall.
County supervisors and staff repeatedly noted the operational risk posed by the aging emergency radio system and asked for clearer timelines and milestones before additional county funds or approvals are committed. The briefing was provided as part of the board’s regular presentations; no formal action was taken at the meeting.
Provenance: The board received this update during the presentations segment; the transcript records Jesse Lane as presenting project timelines, the $15 million bond allocation, the two-year delays, and the 90–120 day decision window.
