Edmonson Only One of Two Counties In KY Without Current Agreement For State Funded Project Darren Doyle, story and photos: A large crowd was on hand at the Edmonson County Community Center last night at a public meeting regarding the future of the KentuckyWired Project in Edmonson County. The meeting was organized by Edmonson County Judge Executive Wil Cannon. County residents have been plagued with sub-par internet service for years but limited options and poor infrastructure continue to hinder growth, despite increasing demands for home and business internet usage. The KentuckyWired Project is an open-access broadband network that is state funded and "focused on meeting current needs for government locations, but more importantly, positioning Kentucky to be a national leader in high-capacity Internet service connections which promote economic development, enhance education and research capabilities, ensure public safety, improve healthcare delivery, and augment connectivity for libraries and communities," according to a statement from KentuckyWired website. Jim Askins, Government and Resident Relations Field Representative for the KentuckyWired Project presented a slideshow and discussed the project and how vital broadband was to all of Kentucky, specifically rural areas like Edmonson County. He went into detail as to how uploading and downloading content is becoming a way of life for work, play, and education. South Central Rural Telephone Cooperative, or SCRTC, is the contractor for installing the new fiber optic lines that will be used for Brownsville and Edmonson County governmental offices. While the offices are the only ones to have immediate access to these lines, the lines will be accessible to third party internet service providers (Windstream, Mediacom, etc.) so they can expand and improve their own networks further into Edmonson County. In order for SCRTC to complete the project in Brownsville, they must first sign a contract with the City of Brownsville, which has yet to happen. According to Judge Executive Wil Cannon, Edmonson County is only one of two remaining counties out of 120 in Kentucky that has not reached an agreement in the KentuckyWired project. "Edmonson County government doesn't have anything to do with this," Judge Cannon said at the meeting. "City governments have to sign these agreements. The City of Brownsville has to have an agreement with the contractor to bring it in. And right now, the hold up has got to do with franchise taxes and bonding issues. I'm not sure where they're at in their negotiations, and that could've changed since I was given this information, but as of, I believe it was last Friday, I was told that as far as the South Central Telephone folks go, they're at $5,000 a year franchise or 5%, whichever is greater." Cannon also said that SCRTC is merely the contractor and has no guarantee they'll ever get any customers should they reach an agreement, complete the construction, AND provide service. "They're not going to sign an agreement where they pay $5000 a year in a franchise tax. They'd probably do a percentage, that's what I was told, but that's not the county government's business." Brownsville City Councilman Greg Nugent was present at the meeting and he addressed the crowd. "Nobody wants this anymore than we do, I want you to understand that," he said. "I'd like to have faster internet, I'd like to have all these things that everybody else wants. The problem is, we're not asking South Central to do anything we don't ask every provider that comes into our city. When somebody does a construction project through our city, they have to have a construction bond, and we expect them to have a certain amount to protect us if they do something wrong, I hope you understand that. Our city budget is very small. If they come through--any construction company--and their business failed halfway through the construction and they have our streets tore up, or whatever it may be, and we don't have a bond that says it would be taken care of, it would bankrupt our city." Councilman Nugent also said Windstream and Mediacom pay the same franchise fee that they are asking SCRTC to pay and are not trying to hold up any project. "I think the City of Brownsville and the city commissioners are getting beat up here," he said. "So I want you to understand, we're not doing anything that we wouldn't ask anybody that comes through. We're not picking on South Central. So, I think part of that issue should be, why is South Central not doing what we ask?" We spoke with SCRTC General Manager Jeff Eaton, who said what the City of Brownsville is asking them to do is unfair and that Brownsville is the only city in the area in which is requiring them to pay such a hefty franchise tax.
"We're very familiar with franchises and bonds," said Eaton. "But there's too many requirements here. They told us if we didn't service their city they weren't interested in KentuckyWired. We don't have these issues with Glasgow, with Munfordville, with Smiths Grove. We had to come through Smiths Grove in order to get into Edmonson County on the 31W-101 side, and Smiths Grove was thrilled to have us come through." Eaton also said that their company has enough insurance to cover the types of issues the city has discussed, but that negotiations were currently in the hands of the attorneys. "They've got all sorts of stipulations and penalties in a contract they want us to sign, and we don't have to do that with any other city. You'd think we were coming through Louisville. We're a cooperative and it's not fair for us to spend member-owned money for something that doesn't guarantee customers. We know Edmonson County is full of good people and we want to get this done, but there's probably only two miles of construction for this project in the city limits of Brownsville, the rest is in the county." Eaton said while both SCRTC and the City of Brownsville have not yet reached an agreement, he says they are not at an impasse yet. "No, I don't think so. I haven't heard from our attorney in a while, but we can still work something out," he said. "I'll say this, though, I'm not sure what else we can do on our end unless we just give in and I just don't think that's fair." Neither Judge Cannon nor Eaton knew the exact timetable on when and if Edmonson County could be left out of the program; however, contractors are currently working in the surrounding area and are ready to make the turn into Edmonson County. "We talk with the state quite a bit," said Eaton. "If this falls through with the city, then it's likely that Edmonson County and Brownsville will be left out of the KentuckyWired project." Several residents asked questions and made comments, all of which either related to wanting better internet service or where in favor of doing whatever was necessary for the project to come through, locally. Even if the project comes through, better service opportunities for the remainder of the county are not going to happen anytime soon; however, they won't happen at all if the project doesn't make its way into Brownsville.
7 Comments
John L. Madison
9/5/2018 12:33:20 pm
Councilman Nugent also said, I think the City of Brownsville and the city commissioners are getting beat up here. The cities of Glasco, Munfordville and Smith Grove, didn't set up road blocks on the Kywired project, and they didn't get beat up on, it seems selfish of Brownsville to make these demands. The city of Brownsville is an extremely small percentage of the total population of Edmonson county, for them to consider delaying or blocking this project, is absolute stupidity.
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Wendy Dennison
9/5/2018 05:34:09 pm
Everyone wants this. If an agreement isn’t reached we’ll be left out.
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Reggie Jaggers
9/10/2018 11:45:57 am
All one has to do to see how things are done in this county is look back to the 60's. This county has progressively gone backwards, don't believe it? Look at the town square, what's there? What was there in the 60's? We once had a drive-in, a skating rink, several little cafe's and shops, what's there now? We don't even have a hardware store or a good garage to take our cars to. There isn't any sort of good medical care here, our prisoners are taking to other counties where we pay for their lodging. There has never been anything in this county, especially entertainment and jobs. Drive around to other little towns like Horse Cave, Cave City, you'll find many shops, antiques, cafe's, entertainment, the list goes on and on. What would bring a tourist here? Answer that question honestly. Yes the cave is there but that isn't Brownsville and it really isn't this county. It's really a shame the way this county has gone backwards but it's the way things are here and I for one do not seeing it ever changing. Dependable internet, here? I guess we'll see, maybe.
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Sandra Smith
9/10/2018 09:30:27 pm
Then why don't you do us all a favor and move to one of these great towns you're talking about. People live here because they don't want all that stuff here. Faster internet would be good no doubt but people dont want entertainment on the square and all that. There is a brand new walk in clinic here. We have to pay for prisoners lodging whether its here or there. The biggest complainers here don't have a clue how things really work. We'll never have extreme growth because there is no interstate or parkway access in this county. Don't like it? Leave.
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Reggie Jaggers
9/11/2018 10:24:42 am
You just said it all, "People live here because they don't want all that stuff here". So I take it you're saying people don't want a nice little square where they could meet and communicate, or simple go shopping for things every now and then. What is the doctor's name at the new clinic you're talking about? But again "People don't want entertainment? Why don't you do a poll and see what the outcome is? I've been in this county off and on since the 60's and from what I've always heard they would love entertainment and shops etc. You're fine without even a hardware store or anything of that sort. Your thinking is what has kept this county behind all the others. I do believe there was a motion to have a interstate come pass Brownsville once but it was voted down. You also think it's okay for this county not to have it's own jail? There's another good poll for you to take I believe. Just keep this attitude and see where this county is 50 years. A town that doesn't want growth is doomed.
Greg Wilson
9/14/2018 03:44:46 pm
Dude what are you talking about? The Feed Mill has a better selection of hardware than Home Depot does. Its right here in Brownsville. The doc over at the clinic is Brittany Sowders and shes awesome. Theres an assortment of boutiques and shops all over the county. What kind of entertainment are you talking about? Bills Boobie Hut? Brownsville Improv? Showtime At The Sulfer Hollow? You're clueless. Who made a "motion" for an interstate to come through Bville but it was shut down?? Someone from Bville's interstate committee?? LOL. Just another example of someone ready to complain about everything yet actually do nothing to offer any solutions except cry on the internet.
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Reggie Jaggers
9/14/2018 05:11:27 pm
Oh the feed mill is our hardware store? lol well forgive me I digress. Is Miss Sowders a doctor or a practical nurse? There is a difference you know. Boutiques and flower shop all over the county". again lol I am talking about (which I clearly said) places like coffee shops where people can meet and talk over their coffee, breakfast etc. Even better restaurants where families might have dinner or meet with friends for dinner. For your information there was a pool room on the square where for a very shot while the owner sold alcohol but that's not what I'm saying at all. Brownsville couldn't handle alcohol that's for sure, but if you want it in Edmonson just go to Park Mammoth you get all you want on the golf course. Then of course get in your car and drive home wherever it may be. I've been around here for along time, traveled to every state in the lower 48 then came back to see Brownsville disappearing. It's nothing to me, let it go and it will turn into a distant memory and maybe you can tell your grandchildren about it. I'm not complaining about it because I know how it's done here. Stay in the dark ages, if you can't see the connection between this and the internet. Maybe we can get back to crank phones who knows. You'll have to get out of your chair and research the motion about the Interstate, it's not my job to educate you about it. Speaking of boutiques and all the shops covering the county I was speaking of the square, just where is it that these shops are located? lol I don't care hoss about what they decide to do, I've seen it too many times and I already know the outcome. This county will never change and it's mainly because of people, well let's just say "The Dudes".
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