MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Agreements have been finalized to move forward with broadband expansion projects in Monongalia County.
The Monongalia County Commission approved two separate contracts between the county and Comcast to support broadband infrastructure improvements in three parts of the county. The work will be completed at a combined cost of approximately $1.6 million with contributions from Comcast and the county, who will combine both general revenue funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds to support the projects.
“We have these separated in two separate agreements: the one agreement is the Stewart’s Run (Road) and the Gandalf (Road projects), which will be funded with ARPA dollars,” said Monongalia County Commission President Sean Sikora. “The River (Road) project, we separated as a smaller project, and we’re funding that through general account dollars,” he said.
The first agreement approved by the commission will support two “mini-projects” that are valued at a combined $1.4 million. According to Sikora, this will address work along Stewart’s Run Road near the southwestern part of the county and improve broadband access for residents in the Cheat Lake area located around Gandalf Road. The Stewart’s Run project will be supported by a 50/50 split between the county and Comcast at a value of approximately $441,000, the Gandalf Road project will cost approximately $1.046 million, with the majority of the costs covered by the county through a just under 70/30 split.
“The Stewart’s Run area, that project costs is $441,035, the other part is the Gandalf project, and that’s out in the Cheat Lake area, that project costs $1,046,343,” said Sikora on the total costs as part of the first agreement.
The second agreement will address broadband infrastructure improvements for residents along River Road, which is expected to total just north of $175,000. The commission agreed to allocate separate county general funds due to the cost of the project relative to the others that were agreed upon with Comcast. The work will allow for broadband expansion for parts of the county near Arnettsville and Everettsville, two well-known broadband dead spots in the county.
“That agreement is different because it’s being funded by ARPA,” said Sikora. “That agreement with county contribution is $175,377,” he said.
As part of the agreements, the commission will contribute a total of just over $1.2 million, the majority of it will come from ARPA allocations. A separate contract for broadband expansion around the Barbour Road area near Smithtown is also expected to be voted on by the commission next week as part of the broadband efforts. For Sikora, who has taken the lead for the commission on county broadband expansion over the past several years, is ready to see broadband-barren parts of Monongalia County receive internet access for the first time ever.
“With these three projects, and the one that will be announced next week, we will essentially have covered, or at least touched, every area of the county,” Sikora said.
Comcast also issued a statement through their Keystone Region Public Relations Department supporting the decision.