SGRITA enters next phase

BLAKELY — With the federal government earmarking $13 million in funding for what was, at the time, a groundbreaking project that would bring high-speed Internet service to a rural area that had very few technological options, the South Georgia Regional Information Technology project was seen as one of those can’t-miss home runs that would serve as a national blueprint.

But a series of events, some of them that could be written off to misfortune, others that were the results of mismanagement, bogged down the project that came to be known by the acronym SGRITA. Infrastructure needed to transmit the service ran into snag after snag, and the project languished for the better part of a decade.

However, a series of seemingly unrelated events brought the city of Albany’s then-Water, Gas & Light Commission on board as SGRITA’s white knight. Utilizing WG&L staff’s “intellectual capital,” SGRITA was finally elevated from concept to reality, passing federal muster and going live on Oct. 15.

Yet even with the completion of the 160-mile fiber ring that carries the Internet signal, SGRITA has been something of a hard sell. Citizens and businesses in the communities comprising the SGRITA coverage area, citizens who were hungry for high-speed Internet when the concept was first announced, have been indifferent in the initial sign-up period for the service. Some of that reluctance has been due to the city of Albany’s lukewarm at best reception to SGRITA as the fiber ring neared completion.

Now, with Albany’s removal from the equation, SGRITA’s board has charted a new course, bringing management of the technology “in-house” with the city of Blakely and Early County putting up the funding to complete and market the project. Additionally, SGRITA’s board has brought Tom Berry, considered by most in the state one of the top authorities on utilities management, on board in a consulting role and has hired city of Albany Technology and Communications Director Jason Gauntt to oversee its operations.

And enthusiasm is at an all-time high.

“I don’t mind telling you, I feel better about SGRITA’s future right now than I have in 10 years,” Clark Harrell, the Mitchell County administrator who serves as chairman of the SGRITA board, said this week. “We’re all excited about the partnership with the city of Blakely and Early County.

“We’re also excited to have Tom Berry directly involved in the project. I can tell you, we wouldn’t be where we are today without him. And having Jason and Matt (Hammond, who also left Albany’s IT department to take a job with the city of Blakely) will give us additional opportunities in the telecommunications business that we intend to explore. We feel now that the impact we can have on Southwest Georgia is unlimited.”

Berry, who came to Albany in September of 2013 as interim Water, Gas & Light Commission general manager and eventually served as interim city manager, helped transform the city of Thomasville’s utilities from disaster to one of the most efficient in the region. He stepped down from his role as city/utilities manager of the Rose City to do management consulting, and his services have been in high demand.

When long-time WG&L General Manager Lemual Edwards retired, Albany started searching for someone to direct the utilities authority. Berry came highly recommended. He took the job and immediately implemented “efficiency” policies that led to the elimination of unnecessary jobs. Angered over action taken by the Albany City Commission, though, Berry resigned from WG&L and in doing so called out members of the commission by name.

Before he could leave town, however, a series of bizarre events, including the sudden resignation of then-City Manager James Taylor, saw Berry assume the city manager’s position on an interim basis.

With SGRITA foudering, Berry led an effort to get the city of Albany involved. With a promise that no funding would be taken from the city’s budget to support the project, Berry convinced the Albany City Commission to sign off on city involvement and chose Gauntt to head up efforts to complete the needed infrastructure.

“I’ve known about and followed the SGRITA project since its inception,” Berry said this week. “I’ve always thought it was a worthwhile project, and I thought it was a natural fit to have the city of Albany involved. I’ve thought that Albany should spread its influence throughout Southwest Georgia because it has the capability. This project was a perfect way for the city to do that.

“I frankly hate to see Albany end its involvement in the project at this point, but it’s clear that the project wouldn’t have gotten where it is without the city of Albany. However, the partnership with Blakely and Early County is a good one for SGRITA.”

Even though the city of Albany did not use budgeted funds in completing the SGRITA fiber ring, the intellectual capital it expended is estimated to have come at a cost of between $300,000 and $400,000. Much of that was Gauntt’s time. Hired by the city to expand its telecommunications capabilities, Gauntt found himself deeply entrenched in SGRITA, fighting a seemingly impossible federal schedule to complete the infrastructure.

“That’s been one of the highlights of my career, helping get that fiber ring completed when people said it couldn’t be done,” Gauntt said. “People may not understand this because, by leaving Albany, there are a lot of projects we’ve started that will be overseen by others with the Utility Board. But I always want to finish what I start. This new position (as the city of Blakely’s technology director) will allow me to see the SGRITA project through.

“I love Albany. I stayed here (when other opportunities arose) because I believe in this community and want to see it be all it can be. But I’ve been associated with the SGRITA project for the better part of 10 years. I think it has the potential to be something really big for this region of the state.”

Albany City Manager Sharon Subadan, who inherited the SGRITA project when she came on board in June, stunned many from Southwest Georgia to the seats of power in Washington when she announced on July 21 that the city would end its relationship with SGRITA. She told the City Commission that the numbers did not work and said her first concern was protecting the city’s taxpayers.

When state and even federal officials reacted unfavorably to news reports of Subadan’s announcement, she backed off and said the city would continue to work with SGRITA but would do so under an agreement more favorable to the city. She, staff and City Attorney Nathan Davis drew up a new contract that was rejected by the SGRITA board. Shortly after, the collective’s board signed a new intergovernmental agreement with the Blakely City Council and the Early County Commission.

Each of the two entities committed a half-million dollars to the project, funding that will be used for operating costs while Gauntt, Hammond and the triumvirate of the Blakely and Early County governments and the SGRITA board work to fully market the project’s capabilities.

Subadan said she’s satisfied with the new agreement SGRITA reached with Blakely and Early County.

“We were not able to negotiate a new agreement where we would stay involved, so they moved on,” the Albany city manager said. “We told them we’d assist them in making sure there was a smooth transition, and we’ll do that.”

Asked about the “intellectual capital” accrued by city employees, Subadan said she understands that it may be “some time before we’re able to recover that funding.” But she said it “remains our intent to do so.”

Ward III Albany City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher, who developed a friendship with Gauntt as they spent more time together working on city business, said she’s proud of the city’s contribution to the SGRITA project.

“When SGRITA was at their lowest, Albany was able to step in and be a good neighbor,” Fletcher said. “What they’re trying to do with those seven counties in our region, it’s my hope that we’ll eventually be able to do that with every county in the state of Georgia.

“Regionalism is very important today, and I’m thankful that the City Commission, under the leadership of Tom Berry and now Sharon Subadan, was able to expand its vision to impact Southwest Georgia in a positive way. We may not remain actively involved in SGRITA as it moves forward, but Jason knows we will always be available if they need a helping hand. As the hub of our region, it’s important that we be the big brother who is there for our neighbors.”