Progress continues as the city of Prinsburg stays vigilant in their quest to bring Broadband to its residents for faster and more reliable internet access.

After a meeting held with Rep. Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg) earlier this year resulted with learning valuable information to move forward with their need, at the July regular monthly Prinsburg City Council meeting held July 13, council members held a Zoom meeting with Broadband planning consultant Connie Schmoll, CMCS Superintendent Jon De Groot and Mark Birkholz, a representative of internet provider Arvig out of Perham, to keep the conversation going. The meeting’s goal was to see what funding options Prinsburg and CMCS has should they move forward with Arvig.

There are a total of 210 locations within Prinsburg city limits which would need fiber optic cable lines. According to Schmoll, this project would cost $1 million to complete. She also stated, while it has not passed but it is projected through the American Rescue Plan Act Kandiyohi County would provide $330,000. The provider would contribute 40 percent of the total cost and Prinsburg would be able to use approximately $35,000 in state emergency funds for this project. Prinsburg and CMCS would then be responsible for the remaining approximately $235,000.

No motions were made to move forward with Arvig and the council agreed to seek out references from other communities who went with this internet provider. Communication for this project will continue on.

In other business, the council has decided to put Phase II of the watermain project on hold for the time being. . . .

Read the full article at the Clara City Herald.