Willmar City Council approves amendment to Connect Willmar service agreement
on Monday in a split 7-1 vote approved an amendment to the city's service agreement with the engineering firm Bolton & Menk for design services for the
Through the design phase of the fiber internet project, it was discovered that there are 76 parcels within phase one of the project area that do not have documented right of way and easements for city utilities, according to Willmar City Operations Director Kyle Box.
He explained that the utility easements are not only needed for the
, but also for upcoming street and utility improvement projects. Survey services are needed to establish and record these project needs.
Councilor Carl Shuldes made the motion to approve the amendment to the service agreement; Councilor Tom Butterfield seconded. Both voted in favor, along with Councilors Stephen Gardner, Tom Gilbertson, Audrey Nelsen, Justin Ask and Vicki Davis. Voting against the motion was Councilor Rick Fagerlie, who has consistently voted against the Connect Willmar Initiative.
The Connect Willmar Initiative is the city's plan to construct a city-owned, open-access fiber-optic network throughout the city in three phases, with the first phase to be constructed in 2025 and the next two phases scheduled for construction in 2026 and 2027.
will manage the network, which will allow internet service providers to lease access to the network to provide internet services to residents and businesses.
Phase one of the Connect Willmar Initiative includes the
and residential and business neighborhoods that are north of 19th Avenue, south of the railroad tracks and west of First Street.
The current contract with Bolton & Menk for design services for phase one of the Connect Willmar Initiative, is $403,000. The additional costs are estimated to be $100,000 for a total of $503,000.
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