Jim Morris with Surf Internet asked the Starke County Commissioners last week for a letter of support in order to apply for a federal BEAD grant to be able to service over 2,000 homes with fast, fiber optic internet connections.
He said 1,170 homes are underserved or unserved. An additional 929 homes will be picked up on their own. A tax abatement will be requested for those 1,170 homes and that request will go before the Starke County Council.
In order to score higher on the grant application, a letter of support from county government was requested.
Commissioner Don Binkley made a motion to approve signing the letter which was seconded by Commission Vice President Mike VanDeMark. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Scott Franko with Surf Internet presented the tax abatement request to the Starke County Council last week. He explained that Surf Internet started in Knox and then went to North Judson, Hamlet, Bass Lake and soon to San Pierre.
He requested a tax abatement process by mid-February, but County Attorney Justin Schramm said with advertising requirements and a required public hearing, there is not enough time to get the process complete before the timeline requested.
The council members agreed to discuss the matter further during a special session planned for Thursday, January 30 following the council’s executive session at 5 p.m. CT. The special session is open to the public, but the executive session is not. The special session will be held in the ground floor meeting room in the Starke County Annex No. 1 building at 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.
