With a bit of parliamentary sidestepping, the La Salle County Board offered concept approval and a nonbinding cash pledge for an undetermined amount for the La Salle County Broadband Initiative.

The LCBI group is seeking federal funding to build a 184-mile broadband system from north to south. It would offer unrestricted high-speed broadband access through Northern Illinois University to schools. local governments, medical establishments, agricultural organizations and businesses.

Representative Reed Wilson, Ottawa's director of economic development, said the system would mean a huge difference in area economic development.

The proposal is for NIU to apply for federal matching grant money that would fund much of the project, which could be completed by the fall of 2012.

Letters of support were provided by the Regional Office of Education, Illinois Valley Community College and the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

Wilson said a $100,000 non-binding cash pledge was being sought from the county. But he said a $75,000 pledge also would be appreciated.

The $75,000 figure was arrived at by Don Pollex, the county's information technology director. He calculated that the county would save an estimated $75,000 in five years, and perhaps even more.

Although county board members were in support of the project, since it was not on the agenda it was not possible under the state's open meetings act to take a vote. With the application due before the next county board meeting, the workaround was for Hicks to ask if anyone opposed him writing a letter pledging non-binding support, although an amount was not specified.

No one objected, but Stephen Abel, D-Mendota, raised concerns about the share being requested from the county.

He noted that among all the county's municipalities, only Ottawa had pledged support, and its amount was $10,000.

Abel said municipalities with tax increment financing projects should be expected to tap those funds.

"They have that money available for infrastructure, and this is certainly infrastructure improvements," Abel said.

Wilson said other municipalities still were being approached for funds.

"I'm not against it, I just don't want the county to get stuck," Abel said.

"There should be a formula of some kind," said Tom Walsh, D-Ottawa.