Town Celebrates Broadband Project Beginning

Excitement and questions arose in the Town of Egg Harbor this month after the announcement that an agreement with AT&T would deliver fiber for broadband access to 2,100 addresses over the next two years.

Town Supervisor Beth Gauger said many people asked what it will cost and when it will become available at their homes and businesses.

AT&T scheduled work to begin sometime in the first quarter of this year, and Supervisor Mark Graupman said AT&T will progressively make services available in locations soon after it completes work in those areas. 

Graupman and Gauger agreed that it’s too early to pinpoint what the service will cost people.

Property taxes to pay for the project won’t take effect until 2025 – the same year the town is scheduled for a town-wide property revaluation. Graupman said initial estimates put the cost to taxpayers at $35-$40 per $100,000 of taxable property value. 

The town is scheduled to make payments of approximately $225,000 each March for 19 years, Graupman said. 

The town will seek grants to pay down its $2.4 million share of the $8.5 million project. 

Residents and businesses can learn more at att.com/fiber and can sign up to be notified when service will be available at their address at att.com/notifyme.

Adjusting to Mail Service Issues

Until some U.S. Postal Service issues get corrected, the Egg Harbor town office may open later than usual a couple of days each week. 

With the Sturgeon Bay Post Office experiencing a personnel shortage, the town board chairman said Village Clerk Pam Krauel could put the mail on hold, open the office an hour later and drive to the post office to pick up mail. 

Interest Gains

The board authorized the Krauel to seek more interest on just over $200,000 in funds for future projects, and Krauel transferred funds to the Wisconsin Local Government Investment Pool at a rate of 5.38%.

Sigh of Relief from Sevastopol Leader

Sevastopol Town Board Chair Dan Woelfel said having shared roads with the Town of Egg Harbor should help AT&T with planning and installation of fiber broadband cable within the two towns. Woelfel expressed relief that the town board finalized its contract with AT&T this month, especially after a previous agreement with Bug Tussel fell apart. Woelfel said roughly half of the households in Sevastopol don’t have access to high-speed internet. He said he anticipates work in Sevastopol starting in spring.