County applies for broadband grant funding

DAVENPORT – Lincoln County Commissioners hosted a public hearing regarding Community Economic Revitalization Board funding for Lincoln County’s rural broadband project during a meeting May 17.

Economic Development Director Janice Cepeda presented the portion of the project, which would provide high-speed, open access broadband to Wilbur, Creston, Almira and Harrington by August 2022.

No member of the public spoke.

The CERB grant funding application approved by commissioners is for $2 million.

The county would have to match 20%.

Commissioners expect to use some American Rescue Plan funds for that match. Overall, Lincoln County is expected to receive just over $2 million in funding.

The project would be a partnership with the Port of Whitman County, Petrichor Broadband LLC and Lincoln County.

Petrichor would provide fiber and facility mapping, one-call management service, an option to contract for local services, emergency restoration management, construction design review and Network Operations Center oversight.

The Port of Whitman County-managed Petrichor would also provide design process overview and recommendations, assistance with permitting, construction oversight and mapping.

The county would be on the hook for billing and collections, and collection and remittance of applicable leasehold taxes.

The CERB board will name recipients June 24.

In other business, county Auditor Shelly Johnston announced that she will retire June 30.

Her retirement letter was read by commissioners at the meeting.

Johnston has been with the county since 1977 and will step away after 43 years.