by Sentinel Staff

After much discussion, including a Custer County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) workshop on Monday, the Custer County Commissioners voted unanimously last Wednesday to move forward with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) potential grant for the CCEDC’s proposed broadband tower project, with the proviso that all bases are covered before the project actually commences.
Commissioners Bill Canda and Tom Flower expressed much concern over the many loose ends that will have to be tied up before the project can actually commence. With a time deadline of approximately one year for all the project’s unknowns to be resolved, there is a real possibility that the project still will not be able to be accomplished.
Amongst the many currently non-resolved issues are the projected revenue/income level from renting some or all of the towers to broadband and/or cellular providers and the actual carrying costs of the towers to the county. Secom and Hilltop, local broadband providers, have expressed interest in using the towers but have made no firm commitments, including what they would be willing to pay to use the towers. There have been no cellular providers showing real interest at this date.
In addition, the actual cost to the county of maintaining the towers is simply unknown. The CCEDC has downplayed what the possible costs would be for leasing the land for the towers from the various landowners (which could be a lot). Their proposal that a landowner would allow a 100-foot tower in their backyard in return for “free” internet access cannot be taken seriously. Their cost projections for the lease cost to the county are not realistic. Also, insurance, manpower and electric/power costs are also unknown. Commissioners Canda and Flower have both stated that once the county’s revenue and the expense sides of the project are complete (which could take some time,) if the result is not a net positive for the county, they will stop the project.
So, the County Commissioners and the CCEDC have a year to get everything in order for the project to start and the grant money to be available. It will be an interesting year.
(Editor/GG: A full report of this BOCC meeting will be in next week’s Sentinel.)