UPDATE: The Willmar City Council is poised to make a crucial decision regarding the future of internet access in the city on January 5, 2025. The council will consider awarding a bid to launch the first phase of the ambitious $25 million Willmar Connect initiative, aimed at establishing a city-owned, open-access broadband network.
The urgency surrounding this decision is palpable, as community members have voiced strong opposition. At the recent council meeting on December 15, resident Bob Enos led a group of approximately ten protesters, who held signs reading, “Shame on you! Willmar City Council — $25 million for internet and you don’t ask?” The public outcry raises significant questions about the project’s financial implications and its potential impact on local taxpayers.
City staff have been working on the Willmar Connect initiative since early 2023 after the city failed to secure an internet service provider to build a fiber network. Instead, Hometown Fiber presented a proposal to design and manage the network, which is expected to include multiple service providers. The city plans to issue approximately $24.5 million in bonds to fund the project, with fees from service providers intended to cover the debt.
Phase one of the project, estimated to cost $7.8 million, will focus on businesses and residences west of First Street South, between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue. A bid of $7.6 million is currently under review. If approved, this phase will be a significant step towards enhancing internet access in the city, but concerns about the project’s viability remain.
Enos publicly criticized the city staff, accusing them of failing to conduct due diligence and withholding critical information. “The public is left with three questions,” he stated. “Did the city staff fail to do the basic due diligence? If so, that’s pure laziness and incompetence. Or, has the City Council been fully aware of the financial damage other cities suffered and yet chooses to put the taxpayers at risk?”
Responding to these criticisms, City Operations Director Kyle Box defended the initiative. “I feel we’ve done our due diligence,” Box stated. He emphasized that while there is inherent risk, the city has worked diligently to ensure the project is financially sound and beneficial for residents. He highlighted the data from successful and failed projects across the country, noting that many municipalities have thrived after investing in their broadband infrastructure.
The planning and engineering phase has already cost the city over $1 million, and ongoing research aims to mitigate potential risks. As of now, the number of residents and businesses pre-signed for phase one indicates that the project is feasible. Box noted, “If the council approves moving forward and nobody signs up, we still have to pay the debt.”
As the council prepares to vote, the future of Willmar’s broadband connectivity hangs in the balance. The implications of this decision could resonate with taxpayers and local businesses for years to come. All eyes will be on the council meeting this Friday, where the community will learn if Willmar will take a bold step towards modernizing its internet access or reconsider its approach amidst public dissent.
Residents are urged to stay informed and engaged as this developing situation unfolds. The outcome of the vote on January 5 will be pivotal, marking either the beginning of a new era in municipal broadband or a halt to the city’s ambitious connectivity goals.
