MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission on Monday committed the last of its American Rescue Plan Act money for a broadband project to expand service into the area of Gladesville and Halleck roads.
All told, the commission will put up $791,421 (or 83%) of a $953,519 project that will see Frontier install 11 miles of fiber to reach 80 unserved and underserved locations.
“Then, on path, there’s another 171. So, that’s another 171 customers who will have another option. So, overall, the possible addresses affected is 251,” Commission President Sean Sikora said.
The commission voted unanimously to move forward with the agreement with the understanding that it must be finalized and signed by Sikora by 11:59 p.m. today in order to meet the ARPA deadline.
This latest agreement comes on the heels of nearly $1.6 million in broadband expansion projects awarded last week and a $17.8 million county-wide project awarded back in June – all with Comcast.
“We’re looking forward to connecting these locations with fiber. It’s the premier technology available and we’re very confident the residents who order our service are going to be very pleased with its performance and capabilities.,” Frontier Senior Vice President of Business Development Allison Ellis said.
Sikora said he believes Frontier, and particularly its fiber service, “have really kind of changed the direction or course of what your brand means in West Virginia.”
Ellis said the company has made a concerted effort in recent years to improve its reputation with customers.
“We’re doing that by delivering a superior product,” she said.
In other news, the commission approved a letter of support for an West Virginia Industrial Road Grant Program application to be submitted by the Monongalia County Development Authority to be submitted on behalf of the Mylan Park Foundation.
The West Virginia Industrial Road Grant Program is a longstanding program between the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Economic Development through which each county has access to $400,000 each fiscal year.
Russ Rogerson, with the MCDA, explained the grant has been utilized in Monongalia County in a number of areas, particularly to provide access throughout the Chaplin Hill Business Park.
In recent years, however, the funds have been opened up to tourism projects as well.
Mylan Park Foundation President Ron Justice explained these funds will be used to help construct a more RV-friendly road between Chaplin Hill Road and the $12 million KOA Campground under construction in the park.
He said the road will run right by the Ruby Center and Mon County Center to what will be one of the largest campgrounds in West Virginia when it opens in June.
“This will give us the opportunity to go from Chaplin Hill to the top of the hill there above the county building, so we can get these RVs in and out in a safe manner with a new road,” Justice said, noting the road will be built to state specifications.
Lastly, Monongalia County Litter Control Officer Alex Hall said the county’s road crew picked up 32,740 pounds of trash and 155 tires from 130 miles of roadways in 2024.
As of Dec. 26, the county had collected 1,014,261 pounds of recycling at its drop-off site next to the Westover City Building.
