The Pequot Lakes City Council learned at its meeting Tuesday, May 4, that the city will receive about 12.5 miles of fiber to bring better broadband service to about 1,080 service addresses.
Shawn Crochet, with TDS Telecom and a city Economic Development Commission member, said TDS is excited to bring more broadband into the city, which hopefully will lead to business and housing opportunities.
The completion goal is by the first of November. This is phase 1, Crochet said, with plans to expand as the need comes. New developments in the city would get fiber optic.
Fiber installation must be cost effective, so as more houses are built, expansion options will be considered. Faster internet speed is the biggest driver.
“From there, as the need, the desire for it increases, we will expand,” he said.
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TDS plans to lay 60 miles of fiber throughout Cass and Crow Wing counties by the end of summer, including a 100-megabyte service laid in Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, Jenkins, Pine River, Backus and Hackensack, while also updating lines in Lake Shore, EDC April meeting minutes say.
In other business May 4, the council:
Heard an update from Jake Bongard, of Bolton & Menk engineering firm and project manager for a cooperative road project study for the Akerson, Wild Acres and Nelson Road corridor. This is a joint project with Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, and Jenkins and Ideal townships.
Open houses are planned Wednesday, May 26, in Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point to provide materials, share input and discuss the corridor with residents. Pop-up meetings with staff in communities are planned, and a project website will go live soon with information.
Approved the preliminary plat of First Addition to Trailside Estates with conditions. Applicants Tom and Lois Johnson seek to replat Trailside Estates along Isabelle Drive and Paul Circle from 53 to 28 residential lots and two outlots. The replatting is necessary to allow for larger lot sizes. The property is 10.77 acres and contains eight privately owned single-family homes and city park, Trailside North Park.
Learned police had 200 calls for service in February and 241 calls in March.
Heard Public Works Director Jason Gorr’s report on streets that need work after a street assessment was done. Streets include Wild Acres, Nelson Road and Akerson Road, which are part of a cooperative project with other entities; Main Street and Front Street. Other small sections to consider include Rasmussen Road between Sibley and just north of Isabelle; western block of East Butler; a small section of Pillsbury adjacent to Gildner Park and Thurlow alley.
Appointed David Lind to the last Park Commission seat through 2023.
Nancy Vogt may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
