The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners Tuesday gave its support to three separate broadband projects that would bring high-speed internet to a number of areas in the county.

 

Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said Palmer Wireless approached the county two weeks ago about grant opportunities and county assistance.

 

One project is a two-mile fiber connection to the Big Lake Industrial Park.

 

Hanna Klimmek, community development director with the City of Big Lake, said the Big Lake Industrial Park is in dire need of high speed internet. She said she did some business retention visits with the businesses at the industrial park.

 

“All 12 businesses have one thing in common. They suffer from costly and unreliable internet service,” she said.

 

She read a quote from one of the business owners explaining how bad the situation is.

 

“We find ourself dedicating several hours to remedial tasks that would take only a few minutes if we didn’t have to struggle with our internet connection,” she read.  

 

In one case, it took four hours to upload a series of 24 photos to Google docs.

 

Weber said that’s a common complaint by many business owners across the county. A 2014 survey showed 60% of businesses felt their internet service put them at a competitive disadvantage.

 

In 2015, using a grant from the Blandin Foundation, the county had a broadband feasibility study done. The results showed it would cost millions to run a fiber “ring” around the county that would provide the initial connections for high speed internet.

 

He said smaller projects, like the ones proposed by Palmer Wireless, were a less costly and more immediate solution.

 

At a total cost of $211,600, the Big Lake project would bring 100 Mbps fiber to 20 businesses in and near the industrial park and provide direct competition to the existing provider.

 

If Palmer gets the state Border to Border Grant, it will cover 40% ($84,480) of the cost. Palmer Wireless will cover $91,960 and the county will front $35,000 in the form of a low interest loan.

 

Weber said payback will be based on a cash flow analysis as subscribers hook up on line.

 

Another project is a 4.25-mile fiber connection in Palmer Twp. that would bring 100 Mbps fiber connection to Palmer Twp. Hall, eight local businesses and 49 currently unserved residential properties. It would also provide free 24-hour wifi at Palmer Park.

 

“The Palmer community right now is getting 1.5 Mbps service,” said Sherburne County IT Director Brian Kamman. “This brings the community into the 21st century with broadband speeds 50 times faster than they have now.”

 

The cost for the project is $263,670, with the grant covering $105,468, of the cost, Palmer covering $133,202 and a county loan of $25,000.

 

The third project is an eight-mile fiber line along the St. Cloud Regional Airport and Del Tone Road. It would bring 100 Mbps fiber to 11 businesses, the airport, the Minnesota Hwy. Research Center and 20 underserved residential customers at a total cost of $498,000.

 

The grant would cover $199,200. Palmer’s share would be $196,500 and the county loan would be $102,250.

 

Weber said the grant applications are due Oct. 3.

 

“This will be a very competitive process statewide, so the odds of getting all three aren’t real high,” he said. “But you can’t get them if you don’t try.”