The Bradley County Economic Development Corporation Board met last Monday for their last meeting of the year before the annual meeting on January 30.
The guest speakers were Glenn Howie, the director of the Arkansas Broadband Office, and Mark Golden, from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
Howie provided updates on the broadband expansion in the county. The state of Arkansas was managing a $1 billion broadband expansion program that would be mapped out throughout the state. Bradley County received around $6.5 million in grants for broadband expansion. The state will receive more funds next year with the infrastructure bill that was passed.
Warren Mayor-elect Gregg Reep asked if the city of Warren was covered. Howie said there was still some problems in the city getting high-speed broadband internet.
Morgan Meeks said she works from home and she has issues with the internet speed in the city limits. She commented it was why she decided not to build a new house because of the internet speeds.
Bradley County Judge Klay McKinney said his main concern with the broadband expansion was cost and affordability.
In regular business, it was reported the funding request of $20,000 was still being decided by the Warren City Council.
James Wells, Morgan Meeks, and Carlton Davis were named to the nominating committee. They will nominate new board members and officers for the annual meeting.
It was reported that deer hunting was being done on the Griggs property when a deer stand was placed without permission. The deer stand was taken down by the city.
Banks mayor Keeton Hudson reported he was waiting to get a grant approval for a water improvement grant.
Judge McKinney said the county received additional funds for the bell tower project. He said they received an extra $9,000 grant to work on the clock part.
John Lipton reported the intermodal committee had gotten the railroad crossing done after working with Union Pacific on the project.
The BCEDC will have their annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 30 at the BCEDC Building. There will be no meeting in December.
