Commissioners delay decision on proposed broadband redundancy agreement with Tuzu Networks

Meriwether County commissioners reviewed a proposal from Tuzu Networks (a subsidiary of Diverse Power) for county internet infrastructure and redundancy and voted to table the item to the Sept. 8 meeting.

Staff presented two proposals from the vendor: a 36-month and a 60-month option. Staff recommended the 60-month agreement, which the staff summary said would average roughly $114,600 annually (the transcript records this figure as the staff's calculation). Commissioners asked detailed questions about the county's existing contract with Spectrum, potential equipment-lease buyout costs, and whether the county would be locked into another long-term commitment while prior leased equipment remained under contract.

Staff told the board they were still awaiting clarification from Director Brown (IT) about equipment lease buyout obligations and whether the county's current contract would roll to month-to-month or require a new term. Staff estimated a potential buyout figure of about $121,540 depending on lease timing but said the exact number required Director Brown's confirmation.

Commissioners agreed to table the proposal to Sept. 8 to allow Director Brown to return with final numbers on equipment lease buyouts, contract termination terms and potential transition timing; the move was driven by concern over committing to a new service while existing equipment lease obligations were unresolved.