T-L Photo/KAILEY CARPINO
The Harrison County Board of Commissioners meets in regular session Wednesday morning. Members include, from left, Amy Norris, Paul Coffland and Dustin Corder.
CADIZ — The Harrison County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal from the state of Ohio that would expand broadband internet in Harrison County during its regular meeting Wednesday.
Commissioner Paul Coffland read the proposal.
“The Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion grant program is accepting applications for a second round of funding for the last-mile broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas currently lacking access to reliable high-speed internet,” he read.
“ORBEG has been approved by the Broadband Expansion Grant Authority and is a competitive grant program to use capital project funds to expand the current state-funded program to serve additional locations,” Coffland read.
According to the proposal, this second round of the program is designed to provide households with internet service at speeds of 100/100 megabits per second.
Coffland said that Comcast plans to submit an application to expand internet services in the county.
He said Comcast’s proposed project would improve the quality of life in the community because of the lack of high-speed internet access.
The proposal states that the increased internet service has the “potential to spur business development, to attract new visitors and residents and to provide effective services and communications.”
Broadband Expansion Grant Authority said the high-speed internet access would give residents more job opportunities, including the option to work from home, and greater access to telehealth services. The program will focus on areas with no internet access or poor internet access.
Coffland said the commissioners have been in contact with Comcast about the project, but he does not know exactly which areas will be receiving improved internet services. He added that he would like to move forward with the project in hopes that it will help more residents have access to information and online services.
“Any improvement, obviously, is an improvement, so we fully support this,” he said.
The commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with the project.
For more information about the program, visit broadband.ohio.gov.
In other news, the commissioners also renewed an annual contract with the Monroe County Jail. The contract allows the jail to house Harrison County’s incarcerated people with Harrison County paying the jail $75 per day for each person housed there. The contract was already signed by Sheriff Ronald “Joe” Myers.
All commissioners voted in favor of the motion.
The commissioners also discussed the proper use of county credit cards. According to state laws, county workers can be given credit cards as long as they are issued by the Harrison County Board of Commissioners.
The cards must only be used for work-related expenses, including office supplies and equipment, office furniture, travel expenses, meals and expenses for technology services.
The commissioners voted to accept the procedure when issuing county credit cards.
The commissioners also unanimously voted to approve two vouchers of $12,029.09 and $5,075.46 for the county Department of Job and Family Services to pay bills.
The commissioners also approved $60,339.60 for Children Services and $3,512.55 for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve a payment of $400,000 to the auditor’s office. Coffland explained that the funds will be used to reimburse the 2023 salaries for 911 dispatchers.
The commissioners also approved a voucher of $8,845.99 for the Harrison County Home and $28,961.75 for the water and sewer department.
The commissioners will have their next meeting at 10 a.m. Dec. 20 at the Harrison County Courthouse in Cadiz.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
