Lakeland Internet tells Woodburn council it has construction drawings after missed feasibility study

Lakeland Internet representatives apologized to the Woodburn mayor and council and described plans for a proposed fiber-to-the-home network, saying the company now has construction drawings ready though a previously promised feasibility study was not delivered.

Nancy Townsen, representing Lakeland Internet, addressed the council and said staffing changes and a terminated consulting contract delayed a feasibility study that the company had agreed to deliver. "...we wanted to come and acknowledge that and kind of explain and certainly apologize," Townsen said, referring to the missed deliverable.

Townsen said Lakeland subsequently moved beyond the feasibility stage and prepared both high-level and low-level designs. "We do have construction drawings and a plan ready to go," Josh Harmon, a Lakeland representative, told the council, adding that the company has fiber and wireless customers and recent local builds.

Townsen described Lakeland as a small, locally staffed internet service provider that has completed projects in neighboring towns and is proposing a build that would cross public right-of-way in places. She told council members that the company aims to serve communities that currently lack high-speed options and that Woodburn had been under discussion for 12–18 months following an earlier agreement.

Council members and staff did not take formal action on the presentation. There were no motions or votes tied to the Lakeland proposal during the meeting. Townsen noted that Frontier is beginning a separate fiber project in the town’s industrial area, which could affect route planning and coordination.

The presentation closed with no council decision; Lakeland representatives said they were available to answer follow-up questions and to coordinate next steps with town staff. The council adjourned after routine business.