Commissioners approve dedicated fiber for emergency operations center after resident objects to cost

Huerfano County commissioners approved a dedicated fiber-internet service for the Emergency Operations Center at 129 Kansas to provide a redundant connection for dispatch and emergency operations, after staff presented a quote from Granite and a resident raised objections about the price.

Staff explained multiple quotes were received and said Granite offered the shortest lead time and the lowest overall price: "$972.18 monthly or $11,666.16 annually" for a dedicated 500 Mbps connection. Staff said the dedicated line would provide redundancy so dispatch and the EOC could remain operational during outages.

During public comment, a county resident who identified himself as Ryan Deese questioned the cost and compared it to residential service: "I cannot I mean, thank you for your work. I cannot understand the cost ... $900 a month for a wire to the building. It's already in place." The resident called the price "absolute piracy" and urged scrutiny of the procurement.

Commissioners acknowledged the comment but approved the motion to accept the quote and proceed with the dedicated fiber service, citing the operational importance of maintaining dispatch and EOC connectivity. The vote passed as recorded in the meeting minutes.

The transcript does not show a breakdown of comparative bids or recurring discount negotiations; staff said the chosen service improves reliability and provides redundancy while fiber installation proceeds in other locations. Public commenters requested greater transparency about pricing and comparators; staff said the county used procurement processes and selected the option with the shortest lead time that best met emergency communications needs.