Supervisors consider broadband reach

New broadband options will be available to Thomson Township residents in the coming months, according to the Thomson Township board of supervisors.

Residents of Thomson Township came to the board meeting July 15, suggesting that the board explore giving residents the option of underground cabling for their internet.

Board members said they appreciated the suggestions, since reliable fast internet access is an issue that the township has struggled with historically.

The board then used the time to inform the public of new broadband options that will be available soon, as well as internet options that have emerged in the last six months.

In January 2021, Starlink became available to Thomson Township residents, through the service’s “Better Than Nothing Beta” program. Starlink is a satellite internet service that is still in its testing phase. But Thomson Township is within its test area, so the service is available to residents now, before it is available to the general public.

“Starlink is nothing like the existing internet you’re used to, residents are getting upwards of 100-500 megabits per second,” said township deputy clerk Leah Pykkonen.

The goal of Starlink is to make good internet access available to residents in rural areas of the country, where other options might not be as fast or affordable. Interested Carlton County residents can visit starlink.com to find out if they are eligible and to sign up for the service, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Another new broadband service, Mediacom Bolt, is testing interest in the area before being fully implemented, potentially in the upcoming months.

Logan Saline, road and utility maintenance supervisor, also informed the public of AT&T’s plans to install a new tower in the town center later this year.

“The installation of a new tower may improve your cellular data as well,” Saline said.

Road questions

Township resident Al Wright came to the board with his own question: “Who decides what roads in the township get paved and what are the requirements to decide that a road needs to be repaved?”

Wright wondered why some roads in the township are being repaved while others are being “ignored.”

Saline informed Wright and the public there are specific criteria for assessing which roads need to be repaved. The roads that are currently being repaved have priority due to being used more frequently and the overall benefit to the community. According to township engineer Joe Jurewicz, this is why Stark Road takes priority over a “neighborhood street,” such as Marks Road.

Jurewicz and the board reminded residents that there is always a way to try and get a road repaved, even if it is not on the township’s list to repave during the year.

Residents can follow the 429 Minnesota statutes which deal with special assessments for local governments. Under this statute, residents can petition for an assessment of their road and then come together to pay for the new road themselves.

This is something that has happened multiple times in past years, according to Jurewicz, giving Hillside Road as an example.

In other business:

• Township officials received the 2021 first-half property tax receipt prior to their recent meeting. Rhonda Peleski, the township’s clerk and treasurer, informed the board that the report showed $157,000 less than in 2020, with 10 percent more delinquent taxes this year. The township plans to use funds from the American Recovery Act as revenue to cover this deficit.

• The final comprehensive plan meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 in the Boardroom at Thomson Town Hall. This session is open to the public and every resident will be allowed two minutes to express opinions on the plan. There will be a virtual option for the meeting as well, with a link available on the Thomson Township website.

The next Thomson Township Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5.