Committee discusses routing dark I‑Fiber to nursing home, highway department; Stratus to provide quote

Committee members discussed extending dark fiber (I‑Fiber) to the LaSalle County nursing home and to the highway department and agreed to obtain a current price from Stratus, which purchased the county’s I‑Fiber provider. Members noted earlier estimates (~$325,000) may now be closer to $380,000 and that bids should be collected before the item is finalized in the budget.

Discussion covered route challenges (rock and railroad crossings) that can increase costs, the distinction between public‑access fiber and dark fiber (the committee emphasized the county needs dark fiber for internal use rather than a public access trunk), and whether to include the project in departmental budgets, the finance department, or capital improvements. Members directed staff to obtain a Stratus quote for planning and to put a rough estimate into the FY2027 budget work papers so departments know whether to include the request.

The committee said it would solicit formal bids after receiving a current estimate; members noted security considerations for public‑access routes and the need to decide whether finance or the affected departments (highway and nursing home) should carry the line item depending on the final routing and cost allocation.