The West Central Tribune reports that the Willmar City Council finally votes to move forward with a broadband plan…

After nearly three years of planning, the  Willmar City Council,  in a split 5-3 vote on Tuesday, accepted the low bid from NC3 for the construction of phase one of the Willmar Connect broadband project.

The motion to accept the bid was made by Councilor Tom Gilbertson and seconded by Councilor Vicki Davis, who both voted in favor of the motion. Councilors Audrey Nelsen, Justin Ask and Carl Shuldes also voted in favor of the motion. Voting against the motion were Councilors Stephen Gardner, Rick Fagerlie and Tom Butterfield.

The Willmar Connect initiative is the city’s plan to construct a citywide, city-owned, open-access broadband network, which the city has been researching and planning for since early 2023.

The Willmar Connect initiative is the city’s plan to construct a citywide, city-owned, open-access broadband network, which the city has been researching and planning for since early 2023. …

The project is planned in three phases, with phase one covering all businesses and residences west of First Street South between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue. Phase one’s final estimated cost is a little more than $8 million, according to Willmar City Operations Director Kyle Box.

The low bid from NC3 of Clearbrook, Minnesota, for phase one is approximately $7.6 million.