Plans begin to connect Clare city to broadband
By Pat Maurer
Review Correspondent
Bringing broadband internet service to the city was a high priority with the Clare City Commission Monday evening.
Finance Director and Director of Information Technology Steven Kingsbury asked the Commission to allow him to begin the process to connect to the service. He said the City now has 11 access points and connecting to broadband would make the City offices the “hub” and a single access point for high speed service.
Kingsbury said the Clare County Enterprise Community has committed approximately $100,000 to assist county municipalities with connecting to the broadband fiber optic cable which was installed by the Regional Education Service District and local schools in the mid 90s. “The EC will give approximately $20,000 to get the City connected in exchange for a commitment ‘not to hinder or impede the development of high speed communication’ and to work with them to bring it to the area,” Kingsbury said.
Currently the five school districts, RESD and Mid Michigan Community College own and use the fiber. Mid Michigan Medical Center in Clare is also connected.
Once a hub at the City is established, Kingsbury said, the City could establish their own wireless network to connect to the library and City departments.
“Our first goal is to connect the municipalities together,” said Ken Chinavare Director of Information Technology for the RESD. “There is no commitment other than to work with the entities to connect.”
The Clare-Gladwin RESD Technology Department manages and maintains a multi-county high-speed fiber network that is integrated into Merit Communications fiber network and connected to the Internet.
He said they are working with Merrit and Pro Tech Cabling Systems on the project to develop high speed connections throughout Michigan.
Kingsbury said the discussion Monday evening was an “informational session only” to find out if the Commission is interested in the project. He said the costs involved to be connected would be “a wash” if the City collected for antenna use on the water tower. A contract with an internet service tentatively could cost about $500 a month, Kingsbury said, but the cost would be shared by Harrison and Farwell municipalities.
He asked the Commission for permission to develop a proposal and costs to extend the fiber connection to the City and develop a wireless network, saying he would have information possibly as soon as the next City meeting.
The board consensus was to continue with the process.
In another matter, City Manager Ken Hibl reported that Mid Michigan Community Action Agency is negotiating for property adjacent to parcels already owned by MMCAA on the intersection of Beech Streets and West Fourth as a site for the old Railroad Depot. MMCAA is interested, Hibl said in a partnership with the City to move and renovate the Depot as a community development project.
MMCAA, if they enter into the partnership, Hibl said, would assist in the project with services of an architect, with grant writing and fund raising for the project.
Other business at the regular City Commission meeting included:
* After a Public Hearing, the Commission approved establishing a new Industrial Development District and Plant Rehabilitation District at the former Spartec Plastics property at 314 East Fourth Street, now owned by Robotic Welded Parts as a site for the business. The City’s approval will allow the company to apply for incentives for future improvements.
*Recognition of the Clare High School Varsity Football Team and Coaching Staff and designating December 11 for formal recognition of their achievement as Number 2 team in District 5 State competition.
*Recognized Clare Police Sgt. David Saad for ten years of service to the department.
*Recognized Gary Gilbert, retiring Executive Director of the Mid Michigan Community Action Agency for his service to the community.
*Approved the annual Christmas bonus list for City employees and approved an increase for full time employees from $50 to $75.
Cutlines:
Clare’s High School Football Team and Coaching Staff were honored at the Clare City Commission meeting Monday evening for their winning season and bid for the State Championship trophy.
Police Sergeant David Saad, shown here with Clare Mayor Pat Humphrey, was recognized Monday at the Clare City Commission meeting for ten years with the Police Department.
