Yuma County broadband project under scrutiny

Rep. Laurin Hendrix and five other House members requested Attorney General Mayes to investigate the project

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Broadband Middle Mile Project was approved back in September of 2021 with money from the American Rescue Plan Act which are COVID-19 federal funds. But these state lawmakers say the project could involve violations of state law, as well as favoritism and abuse.

For many months, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors debated on the appropriate steps in making this broadband project work to offer high-speed internet for rural communities. 

In a regular meeting in December 2021, in a three to two, they entered into negotiations with Allo.

“Motion to enter county administration to enter negotiations for Allo Communications DBA Allo Arizona LLC for design and construction of broadband middle mile fiber backbone, subject to legal review and to bring contract for approval by the board of supervisors," stated Susan Thrope, former Yuma County Administrator.

One of those nay votes was supervisor Jonathan Lines, noting the request for proposals needed to be clear.

“The RFP needs to be redefined to in order to determine how exactly how we are spending this money. We won’t get the opportunity to redo it," said Jonathan Lines, Yuma County Supervisor for District 2.

Then, in a special session at a board of supervisors meeting in January of 2022, they ran into an issue. 

Barry Olsen, Attorney at Law attending in person on behalf of Gila Electronics stated they are a local company that installs and maintains broadband and saw that there was not a contractor license in Arizona issued to Allo Communications. 

In a 300-plus page document released by the state representatives this week, they say that despite these legal concerns in a four-to-one vote, the county entered into an agreement with Allo Communications for the broadband project.

The Yuma County Chief Financial Officer gave an update earlier this year at a board of supervisors meeting.

“The project is still going. Originally we set aside $20.6 million. So far we have spent close to $10 million, $9.6 million. Estimated to complete 18.7 that is based on the presentation that the project manager did a couple of weeks back," said Gill Villegas in late January.

You can get the full details here. You can also read the letter to Attorney General Mayes below.

We reached out to the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and did not comment. We also reached out to Allo, but we are still awaiting a response.