MINTO - The Town of Minto will finally be getting free Wi-Fi in its downtown cores for residents to enjoy.
Minto council is set to authorize a Wi-Fi agreement with Centre Wellington’s IT department at Tuesday night's council meeting.
In 2019, the town explored the idea of installing Wi-Fi in the three downtown cores: Clifford, Palmerston and Harriston as part of the “our towns rising” application to the provincial government’s rural economic development fund.
At the time, the cost of the installation was too prohibitive to move forward. So, in 2020, town staff met with Centre Wellington’s IT and economic development staff to explore how they offered their downtown Wi-Fi to their residents.
After several meetings and site visits, Centre Wellington’s IT department determined that they could support the town’s efforts, and as such, Minto decided to include funds in its 2021 and 2022 budget to move forward with the project.
Council is also set to go into an agreement with downtown Clifford property owners, Jim and JoAnne Weltz, for the installation of the exterior internet antennae on their building.
Harriston and Palmerston already had municipal buildings that have existing Wightman internet, which made it easy and affordable to install the exterior antennas and necessary equipment.
Unfortunately, this was not the case in Clifford. As such, town staff have spoken to Clifford property owners, Jim and JoAnne Weltz, to see if they can install exterior internet antennas on their building, and use their internet in exchange for the town paying for the internet connection.
According to a staff report, the cost to cover the internet for one year at 3 Elora St. N. in Clifford is $1,150 per year, which will be covered on an on-going basis through the economic development operating budget.
