Broadband internet access takes center stage at Monday’s BCEDC meeting

A discussion about Internet access in Bradley County came with the bold claim by County Judge Klay McKinney that with an additional grant, the county could become the first one in the state to be fully covered.

Glen Howie, state broadband director of Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Mark Golden, director of external and governmental relations for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, met with Bradley County Economic Development Corp. board of directors Monday.

Top photo: Glen Howie, right, state broadband director with Arkansas Economic Development Commission, was the guest speaker at the Bradley County Economic Development Corp. board meeting Monday. Also pictured is BCEDC board member Hugh Allen Quimby. Photo by Tim Kessler.

Howie said the state was managing a $1 billion broadband expansion program that started mapping such services statewide during the past year, with grants awarded to individual counties. About $6.5 million in grants went to Bradley County.

However, McKinney said the county lacks just a small area north of U.S. 278 to have full access. He said one more grant should help bridge that gap.

Howie said the state will receive an additional $1 billion to $1.4 billion next year under the U.S. infrastructure bill. He said that an effort will be made to set up committees in each county to determine local needs. “There are still some issues to be resolved,” he admitted.

In answer to a question from Warren Mayor-elect Gregg Reep, Howie said that not all of Warren has broadband coverage now.

Morgan Richardson Meeks, who operates the Army and Air Force Exchange Program from her home, said not having adequate Internet access hampers some home-based businesses.

“The future of rural education, telemedicine, teaching should be at the forefront,” said board member John Lipton.

Howie said the Affordability Accountability Program was to be announced today (Tuesday).

In other action:

• Accountant Bob Milton said BCEDC had a total loss for the year of $18,712, most of which came from costs associated with leveling property in the Warren Industrial Park. Both an asset and liability of a $50,000 loan to J&E Food Group remains on the books, with the future of a proposed poultry plant still undetermined.
• A request for $20,000 funding for BCEDC from the city of Warren is still pending. The Ways and Means Committee was to meet at 5 p.m. today (Tuesday).
• Board members James Wells, Meeks and Carlton Davis were named to the Nominating Committee. New board members and officers will be submitted for approval at the annual meeting on Jan. 30.
• Chairman Dr. Bob Smalling noted that a deer stand was found to be illegally placed on the Griggs Property. City of Warren workers helped remove it.
• It was noted that Arkansas Highway Commissioner Robert Moore would be retiring at the end of the year. A motion was approved for BCEDC to send a letter of support once a new commissioner is appointed.
• Banks Mayor Keeton Hudson said his town should find out next week if a water improvement grant is approved.
• McKinney said grant funds had been approved to finish the work on the bell tower at the courthouse. Finishing work is underway and it should be installed soon.
• Lipton said that after a long battle with Union Pacific Railroad, a railroad crossing at the Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority had been completed. The Intermodal is a project of Bradley and Drew counties and the cities of Warren and Monticello. He praised the cooperation of McKinney and outgoing Drew County Judge Bob Akin.
• Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director reminded the group of Christmas activities planned on Dec. 11, including the parade at 5:30 p.m. and Market On Main beginning at 2 p.m. Other activities include an Advent Feast at First United Methodist Church on that day and a combined church cantata at Immanuel Baptist Church on Dec. 11-12.