Staff Reports
Broadband access on the east end of Marion County is edging forward as Charter Communications/Spectrum provided Commissioners with an update during Monday’s regular meeting.
Rhonda Anderson, Spectrum senior manager for state government affairs, told Commissioners that Spectrum is utilizing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) $186,793,360 monies they were awarded to them to build a fiber loop to allow broadband access across the country with a portion of that here in Marion County.
Specturm has already built a hub station in Jefferson, and is now working on beginning to install the fiber loop. While the grant doesn’t require completion to individual homes until December 31, 2027, Specturm senior director of construction Joe Canales, said he expected to be complete by the end of 2026. He also said that as they passed areas not identified as underserved by the US Census, they would be offering connectivity.
The project works primarily on the central and eastern end of the County, but will not be offered inside the Jefferson city limits or western end of the County as they were identified as already having access.
The Burn Ban across Marion County will stay in effect until significant rainfall has been received, according to a decision by Commissioners.
Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur ordered the ban last Wednesday afternoon upon the recommendation of the Forestry Service. Surrounding Counties are also under a burn ban.
Marion County Tax Assessor/Collector Karen Jones told Commissioners that the total parcel count for tax collection went down by 7,588 parcels this year as the Marion Central Appraisal District remapped different areas of the County, and property owners combined parcels for homestead exemptions. Jones said this was normal every so often. The upside, she said, was that while the cost to collect the taxes by her office was going up by $0.02 per parcel, the taxing entities would be paying less overall due to the decrease in the number of parcels.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a 2025 Dodge Durango for $57,118, for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, utilizing SB22 funds.
The copier at the County and District Clerks storage facility at the Cypress Airport will be being replaced as the County utilizes $3,895.50 of LATCF funds. The previous copier was over 10 years old, and is in place so records do not have to be removed to the Courthouse, copied, and then returned.
Finally, Commissioners approved the disposal of a large number of electronic computers, printers and scanners via the Rotary Club of Jefferson’s electronic recycling program, and disposal of a 2015 F250, 2004 Chevrolet Dump Truck, 2005 Ford Dump Truck, a 1996 Ford Tractor 390, a Rhino 272 mower, and a New Holland Tractor EA514C Versa via Auction Express.
Commissioners will meet again at 9a October 28.