By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW  – Efforts to install equipment for live-streaming in the Kosciusko Courthouse and Justice Building are taking longer than anticipated due to a couple of unexpected issues.

Kosciusko County Courthouse

At the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting Friday, Feb. 19, County Systems Administrator Bob Momeyer said there were two “pieces” involved in the delay. 

“We’ve discovered that a couple of things we assumed at the beginning or made calculations on at the beginning have proved to be wrong,” Momeyer said. “So we need to spend more money on getting everything right.”

Momeyer said each system requires a computer to drive video conferencing.

Originally a Chromebook was to be used for that purpose, Momeyer said; however, this proved to be inadequate in testing. Momeyer recommended upgrading from a Chromebook to a Windows Mini Computer.

The second issue involves the network. Momeyer explained that when they went into this, the plan was to use the current, existing network for connecting the live-stream devices. 

It has since been suggested by the manufacturer that the live-stream be put on a separate network to keep bandwidth issues to a minimum and to provide better service long term, which Momeyer is in agreement with.

Upgrading the computers would incur an additional cost of $9,745. The cost for switches, cables and other networking gear required will cost an additional $8,399, for a total cost of $18,144. 

Momeyer said the county would receive a $200 credit for each of the Chromebooks that were originally purchased for that purpose. There is a total of 12 Chromebooks, which would result in a $2,400 credit. 

Once the $2,400 credit is applied, the total additional cost for the project will be $15,744.

When the project is complete, video conferencing and live-streaming capabilities will be available in the Old Courtroom as well as in several other rooms of the courthouse and justice building. 

“We want to make sure that this is done right and that we’ve got a system that’s going to serve the county for a long time,” said Kosciusko Commissioner Vice-President Cary Groninger.

Commissioners unanimously approved both purchases.

The project was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of January. At the Feb. 12 county council meeting, County Administrator Marsha McSherry said they are now looking at the end of February.

McSherry said it has not been determined which county government meetings will be live-streamed.