KALKASKA -- County commissioners plan to revisit a decision that prompted a criminal investigation that some criticized as "selling" seats on a broadband Internet study committee.
The Kalkaska board's new chairman, Alan McCullen, and vice chairwoman, Debra Kimball, both described as poorly worded a Dec. 15 vote to admit contributors of $2,000 or more to the county's proposed broadband committee.
That group would help determine how the county potentially could use millions of dollars in federal funds to expand broadband Internet services in Kalkaska County.
The motion led to a criminal complaint that state authorities described as so "unusual" they don't yet know how to respond. Det. Lt. Amos Horton of the Michigan State Police Seventh District headquarters said authorities continue to evaluate the legality of the plan and vote and are discussing the matter with the state attorney general's office.
Horton said the attorney general's office has "never seen anything quite like this before. It's different than anything that has appeared in the past and they are still working on it."
The attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment.
The county's intent was not to sell broadband committee seats, Kimball said, and she expects the board to rework the motion when it meets at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Several townships and two private organizations contributed $2,000 or more toward a $16,500 survey regarding broadband availability and service levels throughout the county.
"It's not about raising money ... I want qualified people," said Commissioner Louis Nemeth, who offered the original motion. "Those people who had enough confidence and interest in this process succeeding should have input on that committee."
The controversy also raised community interest and questions about the broadband initiative, "and that's a good thing," Kimball said.
Broadband surveys conducted by Kalkaska, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties are a first step toward applying for federal stimulus grants for under-served areas.
The Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation, an arm of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce that serves all three counties, wants to use survey information to create a regional grant application.
"Broadband is a very hot-button focus for us ... because we don't have the apparent capacity where we need it to attract 21st century job providers," said Tino Breithaupt, the chamber's senior vice president of economic development.
Whether officials pool the survey information together for one application or several has yet to be determined, Breithaupt said. He expects it to focus on specific areas as opposed to providing coverage to everyone.
Nemeth said he wants to provide broadband availability to every county resident. The county potentially could seek the grant by itself, or become a broadband Internet service provider, he said.
He also wants to keep the broadband survey under wraps until the county makes those decisions.
But McCullen said he doesn't believe the board wants a county-run organization or to keep the survey private.
"My understanding is this survey could help the different Internet providers tremendously to expand service ... even if we don't get the federal grant," McCullen said.
