County looking at new phone system

The county is considering upgrading its phone system.

Representatives from Allstar Communications of Fort Wayne pitched a cloud-based phone service to Jay County Commissioners during their meeting Monday.

Allstar Communications currently handles the county’s phone services. Representatives from the company proposed upgrading the county’s phone service to an online, cloud-based program, which would cost just under $1,300 more monthly with a one-time fee of about $3,600. (The county currently pays about $2,350 in monthly service fees.)

Commissioners reached out to the company recently after a representative from Level 365 suggested the county switch phone services, offering a monthly fee of $2,136.36 and a one-time cost of $18,538.74. Level 365 provides unified communications, or a cloud program, to connect office phones, computers and cell phones through a common app. Some of its features include call forwarding and a voicemail-to-email option.

Eric White and Jay Kimes of Allstar Communications explained their company could offer virtually the same services if the county were to upgrade to the system created by NEC, an information technology and electronics corporation. 

The new system would allow recording and transcribing calls, as well as transferring calls off-site to a cell phone or other device. (The choice to record calls would be up to each department head.) It also has its own messaging system, allowing employees to communicate via text without using their personal cell phone number, as well as video call capabilities. 

Phones could operate with ethernet cables or through their own built-in wifi.

Although the contract would be with NEC, tech support is offered locally through Allstar Communications. Kimes said they would offer training sessions for employees as needed.

“Are most other counties doing this?” asked commissioner Brian McGalliard.

Kimes confirmed many counties and municipalities are switching to cloud-based phone systems. He noted the current phone system at the sheriff’s office hasn’t been updated since 1995.

With the new program, White explained, the county would eliminate the need for utilizing five different phone carriers, reducing its monthly bill by about $2,350.

Commissioners agreed to review the proposal.

Also Monday, they heard a request from Steve Neargarder to amend truck restrictions.

Commissioners approved an ordinance Aug. 28 barring trucks from several county roads during construction on Indiana 26 and U.S. 27. Neargarder asked commissioners to consider opening county road 100 North or 300 East to truck traffic, noting there are fewer houses located along those roads between Portland and Fort Recovery.

County attorney Wes Schemenaur pointed out the ordinance amendment wouldn’t become effective until near the end of October if commissioners took action as soon as the next meeting Oct. 9.

Commissioner president Chad Aker said he would like to touch base with highway superintendent Eric Butcher and Sheriff Ray Newton before making a decision.

Also Monday, commissioners approved a contract with Crown City Logistics for trash pickup at Jay County Jail. The rate came in at $132.50 per month.

In other business, commissioners Rex Journay, Brian McGalliard and Aker:

•Agreed to sponsor a haunted house event, pending insurance approval, at Jay County Country Living. Former director Melissa Blankley, who is continuing to assist the county, explained that someone recently reached out to her requesting to use the facility’s basement for a Halloween-themed display.

•Decided to require sealed bids for automobile purchases. McGalliard brought up the matter, noting a local car dealer had requested the formal process.

•Tabled a request to offer Aflac Insurance to county employees, noting the county’s current broker, One Digital, offers similar services.

•Heard from Butcher, who noted prep work has been completed for the above-ground fuel tanks being installed at Jay County Highway Department. He expects it will take another two months until the tanks are delivered.

•Were informed Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program is performing its regular audit this week at Jay County Country Living. Blankley also noted the facility has 24 residents and is close to being full, with two open rooms, or space for about seven residents, left.

•Learned about three workshops for entrepreneurs coming up in December through East Central Indiana Regional Planning District.

•Learned county vehicles are exempt by Indiana code 9-20 from size and weight requirements on county roads. (Commissioners asked Butcher to look into the matter after a local truck driver told commissioners the county had been exceeding size and weight limits.)

•Approved several claims, including $20,329.49 for computer upgrades at Jay County Sheriff’s Office through INdigital of Fort Wayne, $16,800 for a change order in Beam, Longest and Neff’s engineering for replacement of the Seventh Street bridge over the Salamonie River in Portland — plans are to seek a Community Crossings grant to replace the bridge and add sidewalks in 2024 — and $6,573.60 for phishing prevention training through global software company KnowBe4.

•Heard from Jay Emergency Medical Service director Gary Barnett about August’s monthly expenses and income, which came to $136,195.52 and $95,031.70, respectively.

•Revised the 2023 holiday schedule to accommodate Jay County Highway Department employees’ new four-day work week. Highway workers will observe Veterans Day on Nov. 9 and Thanksgiving on Nov. 22 and 23.