Noble County extends infrastructure development zone to support local broadband build

Noble County commissioners voted on a motion to extend an existing infrastructure development zone for three years, a change county staff said will allow a business personal property tax exemption tied to local broadband projects.

Mike Trout, who identified himself as general manager of Litel/Littel Communications, told the board the company seeks the extension because the original three-year zone is set to expire in February and the firm is undertaking multiple projects in the county. "We were provisionally awarded 9 projects, all of which are here in Noble County," Trout said, adding the package totals about $9,300,000 and that roughly half of that amount will be provided as grants from the state. "We lay out all the money, and then we get reimbursed as we do the projects," he told the commissioners.

Trout also gave specifics on construction and coverage goals. He said the company budgets about $60,000 per mile to build fiber and that the long-term goal is countywide service; he said the southern half of the county is not yet fully covered and that some projects are add-ons to an existing plan.

During discussion, an unidentified commissioner (speaker 5) asked whether a recently passed state rule that was described in the record as exempting certain private personal property valued at $2,000,000 or less from property tax might make the local exemption unnecessary. County staff and presenters said they could not confirm the law's application to utility or personal property in this industry on the spot and said they would check and report back.

Unidentified Commissioner (speaker 4) said an ordinance had been drafted using the language of the earlier county action and that the extension would align with the three-year grant and reimbursement period sought by the company. Unidentified Commissioner (speaker 5) moved to extend the infrastructure development zone — the motion text in the record specified a three-year extension starting 02/14/2026 — and an unidentified commissioner (speaker 3) seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the minutes record that the motion carried and staff will return the ordinance at the next meeting for signatures.

The record shows inconsistent spellings for the private broadband firm (appearing as both "Litel Communications" and "Littel Communications" in the transcript) and inconsistent place-name spellings for a city discussed during the presentation ("Kendallville" and "Kenneville"). The board said staff will prepare the ordinance for formal signing before the Feb. 14 deadline.