Blackford County commissioners approve broadband contract, accept state grant and award highway bids

The Blackford County Board of Commissioners approved a package of infrastructure and procurement actions at a regular meeting, including authorizing a broadband contract to place conduit and fiber to county tower sites, accepting a $686,973.84 Community Crossing matching grant and moving ahead with a related small-structure construction contract, and approving highway and asphalt vendor awards.

An economic development representative recommended moving forward with the broadband contract and asked the board to approve a scope to install conduit at two to three tower locations, place one communications cabinet and provide a generator pad and propane generator at one site. "I would recommend that we move forward to approve that," the economic development representative said before making the motion; another commissioner seconded and the board approved the contract by voice vote.

The board also reviewed highway material pricing and vendor bids. Commissioners accepted the Clint/Klink Group and the asphalt materials vendor for the county’s upcoming paving work after reviewing per-gallon and per-10 pricing for AE 90 and AE 90S asphalt products. A motion to accept the vendors was seconded and approved.

Commissioners were briefed that Blackford County was awarded the 2026 Community Crossing matching grant in the amount of $686,973.84. The county discussed accepting Duke’s bid of $858,717.30 to complete work on small structure 004 and moved to approve proceeding with that project. "We were awarded the 2026-1 community crossing matching grant. We were awarded $686,973.84," a commissioner said while outlining the grant award and bid figures.

On facilities and compliance, the board approved contracting with USI to provide ADA-related services covering fiscal years 2027 and 2028 for a total fee of $10,000, with departments splitting the cost. Staff said the work is intended to keep county documentation and grant compliance current so the county can continue to receive federal funding.

The board also addressed a clerical/contracting issue involving Leeward: staff reported Leeward had sent two bonds in error and recommended releasing a duplicate bond. After a local attorney reviewed the documents, commissioners moved and approved releasing the duplicate bond.

Routine administrative items cleared the docket: sheriff’s updates on facility repairs (including a repaired burst pipe), an economic development update that Hartford City’s project paperwork was submitted to the state and expected to move to construction, and facilities updates about a newly installed elevator emergency line and a successful courthouse fire drill. "It was a very successful fire drill," Lisa, a courthouse staff member, said, describing the evacuation and the new alert procedures tied to the elevator phone system.

The commissioners approved regular claims totaling $609,196.32, miscellaneous claims of $21,889.91, payroll claims of $65,974.44, and regular payroll of $184,783.59. All listed motions were seconded and passed by the board.

The meeting ended after the chair entertained a motion to adjourn; with no further business the board adjourned.