Fort Scott to become pilot community for broadband initiative

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Fort Scott has been chosen as a pilot community for an action plan for the statewide broadband initiative, city officials told the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday.

Director of Economic Development Heather Griffith and Director of Information Technology Slayden Davis informed the commission during its regular meeting that the state has approached Fort Scott to serve as a pilot community for the statewide broadband initiative, a decision that has city officials pleased.

"This gives us a plan to move forward and puts us on the map as well. It's an amazing opportunity," Davis said after the meeting.

Griffith said she and Davis took part in a conference call recently with consultants who will come in and help city officials develop a plan concerning broadband internet speeds. Griffith said the state will fund the consultants to come in and help the city put a much-needed long-term broadband plan into place.

"You hear a lot of talk about broadband. It's gotten to the point where there's no more talk. We need action on this," Griffith said after the meeting. She added, Fort Scott will be one of five to seven pilot communities in the statewide broadband initiative.

Griffith said the consultants will develop "a focused set of actions" so a process can be put in place.

A group of 12 people from the community, including city and county officials and business people, plan to meet April 11 at City Hall for a launch meeting. She said a plan would need to be in place by the end of July.

"It's a great opportunity for us," she said. "We can identify gaps and figure out how to close those gaps. We want to be a model any way we can."

Faster internet speed has been a much-discussed issue in Fort Scott, especially in recent months as city officials have been talking and researching ways to bring more broadband access to town, as well as discussing challenges faced such as costs. Discussion of experiences and key issues were among topics discussed at a Broadband Speed Improvement meeting in February at Fort Scott Community College.

Davis commended Griffith for her work in driving the broadband issue locally and her persistence in wanting to get an action plan put together. He said the February internet meeting served as a springboard for further talks on the broadband issue.

"She deserves the credit for this. She's worked tirelessly on it," Davis said. "She's got all the right people in place."

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

* Approved planning for a proposed home brewing event to take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 3 at the Heritage Park Pavilion near the corner of First and Main streets. Bryan Holt appeared before the commission to ask permission to hold the event on that date. An expert will provide a demonstration on how to make wort, which Holt said essentially is unfermented beer. Holt said the American Homebrewers Association holds a similar event the first of May each year. The event will be for people who have an interest in home brewing and want to learn about the scientific process behind the hobby, Holt said. Holt added the hobby of home brewing has grown to include about two million people nationally.

* Approved planning for a proposed dog park to be located at Gunn Park. Martha Scott appeared before the commission to answer questions about the project. She said the park will be a fenced-in area for dogs to frolic and interact with each other and will include benches for owners to sit while the dogs play. City Manager Dave Martin said an anonymous donor made a $2,000 donation and requested the funds be used in Gunn Park, and has expressed support for the dog park. The commission approved allowing Martin and Parks Supervisor Todd Farrell permission to study the project and see if it's feasible. Scott said it would be a "nice asset for the community." Martin said he has talked with city managers in other towns with dog parks and have reported no problems.

* Heard from Martin that for the last several months, city officials have been working with Fort Scott High School graduate and Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche and his wife on a proposed baseball stadium for the FSHS Tiger baseball team. Martin said the LaRoches have put some money up front and have done some fundraising and the Bourbon County Economic Development Council (BEDCO) has donated some land in the Fort Scott Industrial Park. Martin said the proposed land already includes utilities.

LaRoche has expressed his desire for the stadium project to be a joint effort between the city, USD 234 and the Fort Scott Recreation Commission, Martin said. The total cost of the stadium is estimated to be close to $2 million, he said. The commission approved allowing Martin to work with these various entities to get the project started.

* Approved the consent agenda, which included appropriation ordinances totaling $593,551; a modification order to remove one 75-watt mercury vapor street light at 1323 E. Wall Street and install one 70-watt high-pressure sodium street light at that address; and two resolutions and notices of hearings with reference to alleged dangerous and unsafe accessory structures located at 1233 E. Oak St., and 111 Andrick St., and set public hearing dates of 6:15 p.m. May 20 for those structures.

* Took no action following a 15-minute executive session that also included Griffith and Director of Finance Jon Garrison concerning the possible acquisition of property.

The commission also addressed a few other items Tuesday. More details on these will appear in a future edition of the Tribune.