While discussion of the operation of the Choctaw Road Landfill dominated Monday night's meeting of the Washington Parish Council, it wasn't the only item up for consideration.
Council approved Ordinance No. 11-551, which will help parish officials move towards their goal of providing broadband wireless technology parish-wide.
Dempsey Parden, parish IT director, explained that the lease for space on a tower owned by Broadband IP, Inc. will allow for the continued expansion of internet service in the parish.
"We hope to cover all of Washington Parish within 12 to 18 months," he said, explaining that in a survey of residents, 39 percent said they would consider moving their service to another provider."
Parden said the parish effort can also be tied to economic development, because while having broadband might not help attract a business to the parish, not having broadband can keep the parish out of consideration.
"We're finding more and more that businesses have to have broadband to operate," Parden said.
In other action, council members approved Resolution No. 11-522, which allows for entering into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Washington Parish Communication District concerning a 400-foot communications tower being built on Dollar Road.
Homeland Security Director Tommy Thiebaud said communications was identified as a major issue during Hurricane Katrina.
"Communications was one of our biggest problems," he said, adding, "We identified that as we reviewed the issues surrounding the storm and it came out as one of our top priorities."
Grant funding is available for all but $130,000 and Thiebaud said that once the tower is constructed and paid for, Homeland Security will turn it over the the 911 District.
(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)
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