Jim Burroughs,Utility, Park and Street superintendent for the Town of Argos appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners Monday seeking some financial support for their project bringing fiber-optic to the town.
After experiencing issues with their Voice Over Internet Phone system, the town contacted the Rochester Telephone Company to see if they could help bring reliable phone service to the city departments. Rochester Telephone partnered to do microwave for the phones in the municipality and that morphed into a conversation about broadband and fiber optic to the town.
In a two phase project the Town of Argos has brought the service to the community after learning that the Metronet was too expensive. Rochester has fiber at State Road 110, only 8 miles south of town. Phase 1 was to bring the fiber to the 75 acre industrial park at a cost of $75,000. Phase II was to take the fiber across US 31 to Topps and ITAMCO in the existing industrial park and going north to the medical clinic, a few businesses and the school.
Burroughs said, “Phase 1 & 2 are complete and fits in with the county’s plan of providing fiber to county residents.” He continued, “Total cost of phase I & phase II is $200,000 and since we are fitting in with the county’s plan I would ask that you have some skin in the game.”
RTC is responsible for the third phase the will bring the fiber to residents and small businesses. It’s anticipated the build out will be later this summer.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer suggested $75,000 to help the Town of Argos pay for their portion of the project. The board unanimously approved the recommendation.
It was noted that both Bourbon and Culver are interested in how Argos accomplished the project and they are in contact with RTC seeking information on providing fiber to their communities. The commissioners will look at their requests individually if they present to them.
