How to spend the $8.8 million the county is set to receive from the American Rescue Plan was the topic of a county budget workshop last week. The county has already received $4.4 million of that total but has yet to decide how to spend it.  

County Judge Lucy Hebron opened the workshop with a statement concerning the money.

“Before we go any further in deciding how to deal with that ‘manna from heaven’ for lack of a better word, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a huge impact on our county which we will probably not see again in our lifetime,” Hebron said. “We do have restrictions on how we can use that money, and broadband has been tossed about. In connection with using funds for broadband we want to insure that whatever dollars we spend are spent within the confines of the IRS guidelines and recommendations. It was suggested early-on that we hire a grant administrator and someone who is familiar with the American Rescue Act.”

Lee Smith, chairman of the Wood County Economic Development Commission transportation committee, said, “It is our objective to always keep taking steps to make Wood County one of the most livable places in the country. It’s a big bite to chew, but personally I prefer excellence over mediocrity. To that end, as we receive this ‘manna from heaven,’ which on one hand is a blessing while on the other hand it can be considered a curse? It is up to all of us to use this money in the wisest way. We want to put fiber in the ground and make fiber optic Internet available to every residence and business in Wood County. For the future, we need to put fiber optics down every road and what better way to do it than use someone else’s money.”

Smith encouraged commissioners to hire a professional grant person.

“We strongly encourage for you guys to get that ball rolling and get that person at the table. I absolutely understand the relevance of professional guidance,” Smith added.

Peoples Telephone representative Scott Thompson said, “During 2020 the biggest thing that hit us was all the school districts that we serve could not reach all their kids. It was a number of kids who lived on the outer fringes that had no Internet access. We put up access points around school buildings and courthouses and we did it in 12 counties. Kids had to make the effort to go to those areas we provided basically free for Internet access. You’re not going to be able to get to everyone overnight. It would be a 10-year plan. That was our biggest issue when everybody had to go home.”

Smith added, “To be clear, the economic development commission is pursuing the commissioners court to designate as much as possible or all of the $8.8 million for the improvement of broadband in Wood County and that is our agenda.”

Commissioners will decide on hiring a grant administrator at an upcoming meeting.