Linn County Communications Officer
Linn County Communications.
Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved a tax-exempt bond program that will help PEAK Internet run more than 101 miles of high-speed fiber optic lines in the city of Lebanon.
The city of Lebanon has already approved the project.
PEAK Internet CEO Rick Petersen said the company will use up to $47 million secured by tax exempt bonds issued by the Arizona Industrial Development Authority.
Board Chairman Nyquist was concerned that the project might encumber Linn County residents in some fashion, but Petersen said the bonds will be repaid through user fees. Linn County residents will not be responsible for any of the debt except via monthly user fees for those who sign up for the high-speed service.
PEAK Internet is owned by Consumers Power of Philomath.
According to information provided to the commissioners, about 45 percent of the fiber optic lines will be buried and 55 percent will be installed on Pacific Power’s above-ground poles.
The project will provide one gigabit fiber connection to every customer on the network.
PEAK Internet has been working toward this goal since 2018 and has previously installed fiber optic lines in the Lebanon area to about 350 customers.
The new project’s timeline was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Petersen said, but a contractor is in place and ready to begin work after the first of the year.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved installation of two electric vehicle charging stations – one for county staff and fleet vehicles and one for the general public – at 330 SW Third Ave., Albany, the county’s public parking lot and fleet maintenance site. Each station can charge two vehicles at a times. The project will be paid for with a $53,000 E-Mobility Grant from Pacific Power and the Oregon Clean Fuels Program, plus a 25 percent match by the county.
• Accepted the annual audit report by Tara Kamp of Pauly, Rogers and Co. The complete annual audit can be found online at:
• Approved extension of a contract by Sgt. Dusty Frenzel to continue through June 30, 2023.
• Were informed by Planning & Building Director Steve Wills there were 53 land use permits issued in November and there were 238 total building permits issued. No new permits were waived in the Santiam Canyon as part of the county’s fire recovery program.
