Allen County Commissioners authorize Starlink for sewer stations, approve sheriff appropriations and raise procurement card limit

The Allen County Commissioners voted April 21 to authorize county staff to purchase Starlink satellite units to replace copper phone lines at sewer stations, approving an up-front hardware cost listed at $10,229.39 and an anticipated annual service cost of $771.21 after the first year.

A commissioner presented the telecom proposal, saying existing copper phone lines from AT&T and Frontier cost about $750 per month per line — roughly $4,500 a month for all needed lines — and described testing by the IT department. The presenter said Starlink testing worked and that the switch would reduce monthly costs to about $64.27 per unit. The Chair supported the purchase, saying the estimated payback on the up-front cost is four months. The board moved to authorize the purchases and to proceed with installation, the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

In the same meeting the board approved several budget actions: an additional appropriation of $52,997.38 for the sheriff’s office to cover hospital security reimbursements for September through January 2026, and an additional appropriation of $2,886.84 for a traffic grant reimbursement. Commissioners also approved a $10,000 appropriation for net care evaluations to cover court evaluation costs through year-end.

The Chair reported local public-works items — a roundabout at 664 South Park Road that has begun and is expected to be completed by Oct. 1, and a short slope-stabilization project on County Road 374 between Big Pine and 678 that will close the road daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for approximately four days. The board also voted to raise the maintenance procurement card limit for Parker from $1,000 to $2,000 to give staff more flexibility.

The meeting closed after a brief public-comment transition and a final adjournment vote.