Yavapai County District 2 Supervisor James Gregory spoke in Rimrock on Wednesday, April 10, joined by other county officials, to discuss broadband internet, improvements to Bice Road and other local issues.
Gregory gave credit for getting a program to install broadband in the area running to county Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter and County Librarian Corey Christians.
“We have been working for several years to create what’s called a middle mile,” Carter said. A middle mile gets fiber from a trunk line such as I-17 into a community.
“When COVID hit we realized that we needed to do what’s called the final mile,” Carter continued. “We need to get fiber into people’s homes and businesses. It’s not only an economic driver, but it certainly gives our students and parents a better opportunity to access things online if they need it.”
He added that fiber installation can increase property values.
The county has a public private partnership with the company Wecom.
Wecom CEO Paul Fleming and senior vice president of sales Strider Denison said that construction on the project will start this fall and that they aim to have the entire Yavapai County project finished by 2025. They are beginning to submit for permits currently. Cable will be laid both underground and on telephone poles.
Fleming and Denison said some of the advantages of broadband would include faster internet speed, new jobs and industry and opportunities for telemedicine and tele-education. Wecom will be hiring installation, repair and sales staff in the area.
They clarified that residents would not be forced to switch to fiber if they wish to stay with their current internet service provider.
Gregory then discussed the Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District and its financial situation with a new board and fire chief. CCFMD is currently in debt due to an accounting error from a previous merger in 2018 and construction of a new fire station in 2019. Verde Valley Fire District entered into a joint management agreement in September for VVFD Fire Chief Danny Johnson to serve as chief of both agencies.
“It’s been very difficult and it’s not easy to take over something that’s failing and then coming in and trying to upright it,” Gregory said.
The board of supervisors has also been working on improvements to Bice Road and making plans to chip-seal it all the way to the lower wash. The bid opened on April 11 and a contract will be awarded on May 1 with the goal of starting construction in mid-May at a cost of around $1.3 million.
Mailbox improvements will be included in the design for chip-sealing, which will include the pullout by the mailboxes.
The design will include new culverts and Gregory said the road will be more durable when it floods. The road will be evaluated to see what signage is necessary such as more speed limit signs.
Gregory also presented a check of $4,240.65 for Beaver Creek Transit to Janet Aniol. Beaver Creek Transit is a volunteer-operated community transportation service that serves seniors and disabled residents. Aniol said that Beaver Creek Transit is in its 14th year and still has some of its original drivers.
