Public Education/ Discussion Meeting — Minutes

Town of Sturgeon Bay Broadband Internet Commi6ee Mee8ng Door County Library March 21, 2024 Minutes 1. Call to order: The mee0ng was called to order by David Wood at 3:04 pm. 2. Establish quorum: Board members present: Jeff Feuerstein, Pam Kraase. Present via Zoom: David Wood, Randy Graf. Absent: Eckers. Community Members present: Jessica Hatch, Hugh ZeSel. 3. Adopt agenda: Mo0on by Feuerstein to approve agenda. Second by Graf. Mo0on carried. 4. Review and approval of minutes from March 7, 2024 mee0ng: Mo0on by Feuerstein to approve minutes. Second by Kraase. Mo0on carried. 5. Correspondence: No correspondence 6. Public comment: No public members; no public correspondence. 7. Old business: a. AT&T contract sent to Randy NesbiS, town lawyer, to review. He recommended that the Board sign the contract. Discussion on sending AT&T broadband contract to Town Board for approval and signature. Mo0on by Kraase, second by Graf, mo0on carried. b. Broadband map updates; ZeSel recommended wai0ng on giving address list to AT&T. Can clean up files and do a data dump around roll-out 0me. Must include private roads, updated BSL list, possibly environmental data on areas that may be impacted. There’s also a u0lity accommoda0on ordinance coming out soon from the Door County Board of Supervisors that may also impact the work, so no need to give AT&T the address list yet. Sugges0on to consider pu`ng address list on the town’s website so that residents and property owners can check their addresses. Addi0onal discussion on the need for addressing environmental issues: Because the town will be receiving a federal grant, we need to address poten0al. This may include seasonal work to prevent encroachment on habitat for endangered species, par0cularly the Northern Long-eared Bat. AT&T would be expected to apply directly to the DNR for informa0on and permits to do work. 8. New business a. With PSC grant, $16K from Door County, $84K from the township’s funds, the amount that will be financed is around 30% less than what the commiSee announced to the public in 2023. Recommend applying for a loan from Bureau of Public Lands for the remainder of funds needed for broadband project. Interest rates are an0cipated to drop in 2024, so we will be watching the interest rate closely for best 0me to apply for loan. b. Wood made updates to Q&A document, will be posted on town’s website. Sugges0on from ZeSel that the town may want to put out a “Right of Entry” form for residents to sign sta0ng that they allow AT&T to come onto their property to do work. If residents say no, they will get a line drop at the road, but nothing to their residence, which could be expensive for them to connect later on. This form may be included with town mailings. The need and use of this form should be run by AT&T. 9. Items for future mee0ngs a. Public outreach discussion and ac0ons moved to next mee0ng. 10. Next mee0ng date: Thursday, April 4, 2023, 3:00-5:00 pm, Mee0ng Room 1 at Door County library in Sturgeon Bay. Please note change in mee0ng room. We will be able to access the room at 2:45 pm for mee0ng set-up. 11. Mo0on to adjourn by Feuerstein, seconded by Graf. Mee0ng adjourned at 4:53 pm. Respeckully submiSed by Pamela Kraase, Sturgeon Bay Broadband CommiSee member.