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Committee discusses countywide Wi‑Fi tower plan; members press on coverage, cost and equipment removal
Summary
Committee members heard that a proposed broadband rollout would use many small Wi‑Fi towers countywide and likely cost residents less than current providers; members raised questions about coverage, power at water towers and removal of equipment left by a previous bankrupt provider.
Committee members discussed a proposed broadband rollout that would rely on many small towers to provide Wi‑Fi service across the county. Chair (S1) described the plan as using multiple sites rather than single large cells and said the company offered a lower price point for customers than some incumbents.
S1 and Committee member (S2) questioned whether the network would cover the entire town and the county and how the provider would handle equipment decommissioning. S2 asked, "Is it gonna cover all the town, Kirk?" to which S1 replied that the plan described broader county coverage. Committee members also noted that a prior provider had gone bankrupt and left equipment mounted on a water tower, raising concerns about bonding and plan for removal.
On costs, S1 said the new service could be "way cheaper as expected," citing an example of a $30 offering compared with an $80 incumbent plan. Members pressed about power availability at water towers and whether contracts would require removal or bonds to prevent abandoned hardware. No formal agreement was finalized during the meeting; members said they are working toward a local deal and will monitor proposals as providers submit specifics.
