I’m late on the news, but the Hastings Journal reports…

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners voted in December to withdraw the county from the Dakota Broadband Board and terminated its financial management services of the board.

The commissioners voted 6-1 to pull out of the consortium with Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland casting the lone dissenting vote.

Since 2016, the number of homes in Dakota County that have access to high-speed internet has increased from 64 percent to 97 percent, according to Dakota County statistics.

The Dakota Broadband Board was formed in 2017 and is comprised of 10 cites in the county – Hastings included, Dakota County and the Dakota County Community Development Agency.

The Dakota County Broadband Board websites states, “Broadband fiber plays a key role in the provision of many public services across Dakota County. In December of 2017, the Dakota Broadband Board was formed through the creation of a Joint Powers Organization to support the efficient and effective management and expansion of broadband.”

The county had pushed for the Dakota Broadband Board to pass a dissolution plan. That was tabled until May 2023 in November. A resolution passed by county commissioners states: “WHEREAS, a draft dissolution plan was created and considered by the Dakota Broadband Board at the November 2022 board meeting; and WHERERAS, the Dakota Broadband Board voted to table the consideration of the dissolution plan until May 1, 2023; and WHEREAS, the Dakota Broadband Board joint powers agreement allows members who have not provided any system components to withdraw, effective immediately, by providing written notice to the chair of the board; and WHEREAS, Dakota County provides financial management services to the Dakota Broadband Board; and WHEREAS, Dakota County will require all cities who use the county fiber network to sign an indefeasible right to use agreement.