HomeMy WebLinkAbout072318_ca06 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Philip Morley, County Administr ,i
DATE: July 23, 2018
RE: LETTER OF SUPPORT re: Rural Broadband Program Strategic Planning Grant
Application to CERB program of WA Department of Commerce; Jefferson
County Public Utility District
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Jefferson County Public Utility District has requested a letter
of support for the PUD's Rural Broadband Program Strategic Planning Grant Application
through the CERB program of the WA Department of Commerce. A draft letter of support is
attached.
ANALYSIS: The Board of County Commissioners previously received and reviewed
information about the PUD's CERB grant application for Rural Broadband Program Strategic
Planning. PUD General Manager Larry Dunbar and PUD Commissioner Kenneth Collins have
shared information about their application, and have requested the County Commissioners
submit a letter of support.
Jefferson County has a long history of leadership and collaboration with our Public Utility
District, WSU Extension, the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County and local
governmental jurisdictions in an effort to expand broadband as an essential piece of economic
development infrastructure throughout rural Jefferson County. Together, we successfully
obtained and implemented a BTOP grant with NoaNet a number of years ago, which the PUD
now manages. But much more needs to be done to make broadband available to businesses and
residents throughout our rural county. The PUD's Rural Broadband Program Strategic Planning
Grant is an important next step for our community.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Pass a motion through the Consent Agenda authorizing the Chair of
the Board to sign and submit the attached letter of support.
REVI W BY: _.
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Philip Morley, County Administrat Date