| 40 attend fiber optic open house |
By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
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Posted: Saturday, November 8, 2008 12:21 am
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NORTHFIELD — Roughly 40 people turned out to voice their questions and concerns about a proposed city-wide, fiber optic communications network last Thursday during the Fiber Optic Feasibility Open House at City Hall.
Reactions at the open house ran the gamut during the two-hour meeting, as residents gave their input about the proposed network and received responses from members of the city administration and an independent consultant involved in the project.
If completed, the project would bring a fast, up-to-date fiber-optics cable network to the city. Project members say the fiber-optic lines would meet the needs of businesses and individuals in the community, who increasingly rely on large online file transfers.
“We did have some really good input from people that were excited about the project, and others who were a little more leery,” said city information technologies director Melissa Reeder.
“People came with really thoughtful questions — they were very comfortable with the concept of fiberoptics, but curious about what it would do for them as a resident.”
Funding for the $54,500 feasibility study and the open house comes from several different sources, including grants from the Blandin Foundation and the Northfield Economic Development Authority and $10,000 from the city funds.
The goal of the open house, Reeder said, was solely to address citizen concerns and allow Northfield residents to give input on the project. The feasibility study is the result of a city task force composed of community members and city employees that convened earlier this spring to discuss the contents and the direction of the proposed fiber optics project.
By the end of January, Reeder said, the study should be complete and ready for presentation to the city council, depending on what sort of feedback the task force receives from the city.
— David Henke can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100. |
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