RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners reviewed a 2024 strategic plan for the county’s IT and broadband during a work session Tuesday. As the broadband program continues to expand, the department is looking to create better separation between IT and broadband and improve customer service.
Overall, adjustments are expected to be a net zero in county expenditures as broadband revenue increases.
Information Systems Director Trevor Nielsen said before broadband was implemented, the county’s IT department consisted of two employees.
“We need a 100% broadband director,” said Operations Administrator Eric Jaquez.
“In day-to-day operations, broadband is consuming most of the time for the current staff. We’re not getting two full-time people in IT right now.”
Anticipated increases in revenue through expansion of the broadband project, contingent on receiving a $20 million grant to complete the “last mile” of the project, are expected to more than cover increased wages.
Currently, there are 2,130 customers using county-owned broadband. Of those, approximately 70% are using the county as their Internet Service Provider (ISP) and 30% are Cimarron Telecommunications customers. An additional 650 addresses are potentially within the county’s existing broadband service area that aren’t using it for various reasons.
Also in a work session, Road and Bridge Director Scott Marsh told the board that bids for the County Rd. 4 project came back higher than the estimate. The board agreed to move forward, as costs are only expected to increase next year.
In the regular meeting, the board approved ratification of a letter of support for the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative Grant Application, which will allow the Northwest CDC group to seek funding from the Office of Just Transition to provide educational materials to the public regarding nuclear power. The NWCDC group requires 60% approval from the regional participants. The letter from Rio Blanco County brings approval to that level, with Routt County and the Town of Hayden not in support.
The board also accepted a $350,000 grant award for the Rio Blanco County Law Enforcement Training Center. The county applied for the grant through the U.S. Senate in 2022. The grant will fund the transition of the currently unused Rio Blanco County Detention Center to a state-of-the-art law enforcement training facility.
Following the contentious approval of a solar project southwest of Meeker this summer, the Board approved a resolution that places a moratorium on alternative wind and solar projects until such plans can be addressed through the current land use plan.
Following commissioner updates, the board went into executive season to discuss personnel matters for administrator annual reviews and a joint executive session with the Rio Blanco County Water Conservancy District “to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations” regarding CCITF — Wolf Creek Reservoir.
BY NIKI TURNER | [email protected]