Broadband, business and utility assistance considered

MEDICAL LAKE – Mayor Shirley Maike requested council help categorize funding from the American Rescue Plan Act during a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 2.

She also advocated utility and small business assistance when Councilwoman Heather Starr asked for the cost of broadband implementation.

City Administrator Doug Ross said the most recent estimate to integrate broadband citywide is $8-10 million.

He also said the city could go section-by-section and cover about 25% of the city for about $2 million.

Testing broadband services would be difficult, as well, he said noting the city doesn’t have its own powe...