MTZ Village Board approves broadband expansion

By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer

The Mt. Zion Village Board met on October 18 and approved two motions. One was to extend comcast service in the Village of Mt. Zion and the other was an engineering agreement between the village of Mt. Zion and Farnsworth Group.

Village staff has worked on what they could use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. ARPA funds can be used on the following: broadband expansion, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water projects. The Village of Mt. Zion will receive roughly $787,800 in two installments.

The amount of funds needed for this broadband expansion was $157,517. Those funds would be used to expand Comcast services down Traughber Road into Silver Lead subdivision and the properties along the way would receive the broadband as part of the expansion.

There are 28 properties that would be affected by this expansion and receive comcast. Those properties would have to pay a one-time $1,400 payment to participate in the project. Village staff have met with citizens in this project area and they are excited for the project. Internet options in this project area are nonexistent and it has made it hard for these citizens to either work from home or for students to learn remotely.

The Board also approved an agreement between the Village of Mt. Zion and Farnsworth Group. The agreement is linked to the Harry Land Bike Path Connection Project. The agreement would begin Phase II and II of the project for the bike path to be constructed along Harry Land Road from Baltimore to Sundance.

The Village was awarded an ITEP Grant in June in the amount of $191,104 and the Village’s total estimated share of the project is $21,300.

Other items at the Village Board meeting included:

-A presentation of the 2021 proposed tax levy

-Approved the 2022 Holiday and Meeting Schedule

The next Mt. Zion Village Board meeting will be held on November 15 at 5:15 p.m.