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2023-03-07 MINUTES 1 <br /> <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />CONFERENCE ROOM <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />TUESDAY 1:00 P.M. MARCH 7, 2023 <br /> <br />Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett <br />Wachsmith; and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. <br /> <br />Others: Mandy Buchholz, Office Administrator and Joe Poire, JRP <br />Integrated Solutions (via Webex); Mark Cook, Public Works Director; <br />Doug Fessler, IT Director. <br /> <br />SPECIAL MEETING BROADBAND COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />At 1:00 p.m. Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to discuss <br />Broadband Construction and Management of Operation. <br /> <br />Joe Poire, JRP Integrated Solutions, reviewed the background on the <br />Broadband project dating back to the pandemic and how that period <br />has impacted everyone with a need for higher demand for internet <br />stability for everyone’s livelihood with millions working, going to <br />school and staying home, which has not declined after the pandemic <br />the need is still just as high. <br /> <br />He reviewed what metrics are looked at for the grant application for <br />best scoring; as well as what projects were awarded previously <br />through the Public Works Board 2021 grant award cycle. He stressed <br />the importance of affordable broadband and that it was a consistent <br />takeaway throughout the previous Broadband Action Team (B.A.T) <br />Meetings. <br /> <br />The Board discussed the different processes they could take through <br />the RFP process and whether the County would want to own the <br />facility and or run it or not or what their preferred route was <br />while also considering the risks of each. <br /> <br />The Board chose to go with the Public Works RFP for Design and <br />Construction Procurement Process. The Board directed Staff to set up <br />a follow up meeting the following week to allow further discussion <br />due to the tight timeline they were up against. Director Cook stated <br />he would finish the RFP in time for that meeting. <br /> <br />Commissioner Osiadacz expressed her frustration with regard to the <br />process and feeling like they were left with no choice due to the <br />timeline and stressed that future projects will not be handled this <br />way. <br />