Build out breakdown

Second vote in favor of PUD's stand-pat policy does not silence its critics

EPHRATA — For the second time, the commissioners of the Grant County Public Utility District voted on the plan to stand pat on fiber build out during their regular Monday meeting.

And like the original vote weeks ago, the commissioners again passed a 3-2 vote in favor of the stand pat plan, again bringing with it a barrage of strong criticism between supporters and opponents of the plan.

Even before the vote took place, members of the audience engaged in heated discussion over the merits of the plan, which in effect stops the Zipp network fiber build out in the county for a year, and which would not give access to the fiber system to those who don't already have it.

Members of the group Fiber Active, which is opposed to the stand pat model, criticized the decision to stop new access.

"We understand it's expensive, but we should continue to build out even if it's modestly," said Alan Troupe, one of the group's members present at the meeting, who added he and his group were not convinced that this was the best course of action to follow.

"We are at a loss why the decision to stand pat was made," he added.

Troupe's words were echoed repeatedly by people who shared his philosophy at the meeting, and, in a way, also by many not present Monday. Troupe and a number of anti-stand pat citizens submitted to the commissioners hundreds of signatures of county residents who felt the same way they did.

PUD commission chairman Bill Bjork thanked them for the signatures, saying that was citizen input that the commissioners needed.

The discussion on the stand pat model threatened to become uncivil when former PUD commissioner Bill Judge got up to speak. Judge, a supporter of the commissioner's plan, said the people who support further build out have to say how much they are willing to pay for it first. Gary Baker, from Wilson Creek, stood up and interrupted Judge, causing Bjork to become involved, telling Baker that Judge had the floor. The discussion between the two continued after the meeting.

"People like Bill (Judge) want to give lip service to fiber but they are trying to kill it," Baker said. Judge replied by saying that each hub of fiber service costs around $75,000.

"Is anybody willing to step up and pay?" he asked. Continuing the build outs will hurt the many and benefit the few, he added.

Commissioner Greg Hansen said that he and fellow commissioners Randy Allred and Bjork, the trio who voted in favor of the stand pat model, were not against fiber, but thought that the PUD needed to get its house in order before it moves on.

Commissioner Tom Flint disagreed, saying that to stand pat on fiber build out would close the door on economic development and it would mean a death spiral for the fiber system.

In other PUD news, a resolution was a approved to establish a settlement program for certain Grant County PUD telecommunications system employees whose positions are being eliminated due to the adoption of the stand pat plan.

For employees whose positions are being eliminated, there is no other applicable employment in the district. Their employment will be terminated and they will be eligible to receive a desperation payment based on 20 hours of salary for each three months of full time employment up to eight weeks of salary.

"I think they'll still be employees of the district if and when the build out happens," said Allred.