By Anton Riecher
A wireless internet provider based in LaCoste is proposing a partnership with Medina County to strengthen its chance at securing $96 million in state grant funding to extend fiber optic infrastructure throughout the county.
Rodney Hitzfelder, president and founder of Sago Internet, addressed county commissioners during the commissioners’ court meeting Monday in Hondo.
“We’re not asking for any funding,” Hitzfelder said. “In fact, we will probably be putting in matching funds through our corporation because it gives us advanced points toward the application.”
Medina County is one of 20 Texas counties approved to apply for a portion of the $729.9 million available thought the Texas Broadband Development Office’s BOOT II competitive grant program aimed at funding countywide infrastructure projects that bring broadband access to eligible areas of the state.
The deadline for applying for the funds is August 26.
County Judge Keith Lutz told commissioners that Sago is one of three companies soliciting support from the commissioners’ court in applying for the BOOT II funding. Established in 2020 to provide wireless internet to the La Coste area, Sego has since grown to 500 customers with the help of COVID stimulus money previously issued by the county.
“A letter of support from the county will go a long way to help the winning applicant get this grant,” Hitzfelder said. Sego has also solicited letters of support from the Hondo school district, the Medina Regional Hospital District, Medina Electric Cooperative and the Yancey Water Supply Corporation.
Hitzfelder noted that Sego is the only applicant for the BOOT funding based in Medina County.
“If Sego doesn’t get it the largest part of Internet in this county will be run by an out-of-state, multi-state corporation.”
Beyond a letter of support, Hitzfelder suggested that his company and the county enter into a partnership in pursuit of the state funding. The only eligible entities to apply for the funds are governmental entities, commercial boardband providers and non-commercial broadband providers.
“We’re one of those,” Hitzfelder said. “You’re the other.”
A partnership with the county would give Sego an advantage in identifying low-income households most in need of internet service, he said. The county could also help in organizing community meetings to reach those households.
Lutz said the commissioners would need more information before committing to a partnership with Sego.
“We do not want to get into anything where we have any liability,” he said.
He suggested scheduling further consideration for the August 19 commissioners’ court meeting.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity here,” Lutz said. “I think it’s pretty exciting that out of 254 counties we’re one of the 20 that have an opportunity to do this.”
Hitzfelder said his company is prepared to move forward with the grant application regardless of the commissioners’ decision on August 19.
In other business, the commissioners approved accounts payable totaling $356.093. The commissioners also approved $20,824 in disbursement of funds since the previous commissioners’ court meeting. As of the end of June the county showed a cash balance of $28.3 million against a debt of $22.7 million.
Action to accept a maintenance bond for street and drainage improvement in Hunters Ranch subdivision, unit 10, located in precinct 2, was tabled.
The commissioners approved action to reappoint the following board members to various public improvement districts: Janet Tovey and Michael Ingersoll, Potranco Oaks PID and The Enclave at Potranco Garden PID; Michael Ingersoll and Dorsey Wilkin, Potranco Ranch PID No. 1, and Robert Hancock, Michael Ingersoll, Victor Ortiz, Janet Tovey and Mary Hoyt, Potranco West PID.
On a motion by Precinct 2 Commissioners Larry Sittre, the commissioners voted to use equitable sharing funds to purchase two all-terrain vehicles and utility trailers for use by the sheriff for use in search and rescue response. Equitable sharing funds are derived from federally forfeited property that is shared with state and local law enforcement.
Commissioners also voted extend the imposition of motor vehicle registration fees for 2025. The county charges the maximum allowable fee of $10.
In another annual requirement, the court approved the Texas Indigent Defense Commission formula grant award of $34,000 for the 2024 fiscal year. The funding from the state is normally received in February.
The commissioners also approved the county’s application for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Wildlife Service feral hog abatement grant. The grant is intended to encourage counties to reduce the feral hog population and the damage they cause.
Successful applicants receive grants to start or continue feral hog abatement activities in the county. The program is funded through federal and state funding. Medina County’s two previous applications were rejected.
In other action, the commissioners accepted the resignation of Patrick Bourcier from the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 5 board of commissioners. Bourcier is replaced by Reyna Vasquez.
