County shifting to fiber service

The switch to fiber is official.

Jay County Commissioners signed a contract Monday with Community Fiber Solutions of Portland for installing and using fiber optic internet at Jay County Courthouse.

They also approved a request to re-brand Jay County Retirement Center with the new name, “Jay County Country Living.”

At present, the courthouse uses a copper-based connection for internet through Comcast. The new fiber optic connections transmit data through light pulses and are “state of the art,” according to Community Fiber Solutions commercial account executive Doug Bieberick.

The approved five-year contract for 100-megabyte upload and download speeds will cost about $269 a month with a one-time $99 installation fee. Commissioners decided not to opt into a service agreement with the company, which would add about $160 to the total cost each month. The county can upgrade to higher speeds or add a service agreement in the future, if needed. (A three-year contract with Comcast would have cost the county about $680 monthly, compared to a three-year contract with Community Fiber Solutions at about $299 monthly. A five-year contract with Comcast was not presented.)

Commissioners agreed to move forward with drafting a contract with the company at a meeting April 12. County attorney Bill Hinkle reviewed the contract and asked Bieberick last week for a clarification in the event the county was not satisfied with its service. Bieberick added a paragraph to the contract stating the county can terminate the contract with cause –– citing poor service and a failure to resolve said issue –– without penalty with 90 days prior written notice.

“We want to be a good partner –– that’s what we do,” Bieberick said. “We just don’t have cancellations unless the company moves. They like the service once they get it because we take care of them, and it’s the best service they can get. In this case, I guess it’s the least expensive option for you as well.”

After approving the contract, commissioners Chad Aker and Brian McGalliard inquired about a potential partnership between the county and Community Fiber Solutions for expanding internet service across the county. The federal American Rescue Plan Act, which will provide COVID-19 relief funds to the county, lists broadband internet access as a qualified usage of the funding. (Jay County will be receiving approximately $3.9 million in funds.)

Also Monday, commissioners renamed the retirement center to Jay County Country Living, a request brought by its director, Hope Confer.

Confer explained she and McGalliard had discussed potentially changing the name of the facility that has operated in the county since 1885, according to the Jay County Chamber of Commerce website. She said the intent of a name change is to clarify that the facility is open to more than those who are retired — it takes anyone 18 years old and older with a disability –– and Confer wondered if the former retirement center name contributed to confusion.

Also, county attorney Bill Hinkle agreed to look into documentation from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources regarding hunting in the county-owned woods just south of the highway barn between county roads 100 North and 200 North and county roads 100 East and 200 East. Aker said he has been approached by local hunters who have mentioned the document, which relieves landowners’ liability if hunters are hurt. Hinkle said he was curious if that liability extends to the general public as well.

Commissioners also agreed to go through Portland-based Bricker Auction Company for a county auction sometime this year. (No date has been set.)

In other news, commissioners Rex Journay, McGalliard and Aker:

•Heard from county auditor Anna Culy the sales disclosure fee for property transfers will be increasing from $10 to $20 starting in July.

•Signed a proclamation offered by Jay County Optimists declaring next week, May 2 through May 8, as Respect, Appreciation and Support Week for law enforcement officers throughout Jay County.

•Approved a $5,785.99 claim from Portland-based Progressive Office Products for two new laptops for Jay County Prosecutor’s Office and an annual agreement covering medical expenses for incarcerated offenders.

•Reviewed a monthly financial report from Jay Emergency Medical Service directors Gary Barnett and John McFarland. (Expenses for JEMS in March totaled $113,819.24, and income totaled $89,256.77.)