01-24-08 Meeting Minutes

St. Lawrence County
Information Technology Advisory Committee
January 24, 2008, 2:00 pm
Location: Canton Public Safety Bldg

Meeting Minutes

Present: Sign in sheet handed out (Laura Perry has on file)

1. Completed introductions of new participants (Wade Davis/OBPA, and Patricia McKeown/SLC Chamber of Commerce)

2. Reviewed Meeting Minutes – No comments or changes noted

3. Project Reports/Old Business

a. Mapping/Survey

· Work is continuing to setup up linkage to Real Property tax site so information can be obtained electronically and tracked back to TM#s. Some information has already been collected through this site, even though public announcement has not been made regarding site. Laura has developed marketing plan for survey which will include distribution of survey through North Country libraries, SeaComm FCU, Chamber, county employers, etc.

b. Newton Falls Broadband Grant

· Laura provided an update on Newton Falls Paper Mill (Mill) universal access broadband grant application which would secure funding for DANC to build out fiber from Star Lake to the Mill.

- Laura presented a draft letter of support on behalf of the SLC IT Committee for the proposed project.
- Grant application is due next week. Details are being finalized this week and application will be submitted on time.
- DANC has been asked to help find service providers to utilize fiber, should grant be successful.
- Grant assumes that 100% reimbursement will be provided to construct fiber to the Mill.
- Grant requires 1 to 1 matching contribution.
- The exact cost has not yet been finalized but is estimated at approximately $200k
- Grant will be awarded toward end of February.
- Project is estimated by DANC to take approximately 120 days from contract signing to complete.
- Public Service Commission complaint was filed by Mill after last SLC Committee meeting.

c. Organizational Structure of IT Committee & Subcommittees

· Group reiterated need to establish subcommittees.
· Discussion regarding need for “working” subcommittee meetings on day of IT Committee meetings; possibly before main meeting. Subcommittees could report in to main committee.
· The following subcommittees were selected and some members volunteered:
a. Fiber Mapping (and survey) Subcommittee
- Jon, Laura, and Pat volunteered
b. Internal County IT Issue Subcommittee (website, phone system, and other County issue)
- Francine, Mike and Phil volunteered
c. Grant Exploration Subcommittee
- Laura, Pat and Wade volunteered
d. Strategic Implementation Plan for expanding broadband access
- Kevin and Carrie volunteered

4. New Business

· Pat McKeown from the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce requested assistance from IT Committee in determining how to utilize $196k broadband grant that the Chamber will be administering.

· Wade Davis discussed need for fiber crossing on Ogdensburg CA bridge to assist industrial park customers that have businesses on both sides of the border as possible usage for Chamber funds.

· Discussion about need for provider representation level at committee. Committee still has questions about level on participation needed.

· Kevin emphasized need to coordinate w/ surrounding agencies and Counties to understand their broadband service area.

5. Action Items

· Committee members requested to sign up for subcommittees (or be volunteered).

· Laura and Carrie will meet to reissue subcommittee information.

· Internal County Subcommittee will discuss restructuring Central Services at County level which may lead to new IT Director position.

· Laura to develop meeting schedule list for year. Group elected to rotate meetings to different locations.