Laserfiche WebLink
South Bend <br />Redevelopment Commission <br /> 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Room 301, South Bend, Indiana <br />Redevelopment Commission Agenda Item <br />DATE : 7/2/26 <br />FROM: Erin Michaels – Property Development <br />Manager <br />SUBJECT: Non-Exclusive Utility Easement Agreement for <br />ChoiceLight Inc. Sample Street Fiber Ductbank <br />Funding Source* (circle) River West; River East; South Side; Douglas Road; West Washington; RDC General; Riv. East Res. <br />* Funds are subject to the City Controller's determination of availability; if funds are unavailable, as solely determined by the City Controller, <br />then the authorization of the expenditure of such funds shall be void and of no effect. <br />PURPOSE OF REQUEST: Approval of Proposed Non-Exclusive Utility Easement Agreement for Fiber <br />Ductbank on Sample Street with ChoiceLight, Inc. <br />SPECIFICS: ChoiceLight, Inc. operates a professional fiber optic network serving St. Joseph, Elkhart and <br />Marshall County whose mission is to champion digital equity by building and expanding that fiber network <br />infrastructure to as many institutions as possible to ensure that businesses and other organizations have <br />access to reliable, high-speed internet. <br />The Redevelopment Commission (“RDC”) owns four vacant parcels on Sample Street in Ignition Park. <br />ChoiceLight, Inc. is requesting a non-exclusive 5’ easement over these four parcels for the installation of a <br />new fiber optic cable ductbank along Sample Street (the “Utility Easement”). The proposed easement <br />commits ChoiceLight to maintaining any facilities installed in the easement area as well as repairing or <br />restoring any portion of the easement area or right-of-way along Sample Street damaged during <br />installation, including replacement of any trees that would be removed during this work. Finally, if <br />redevelopment opportunities on these vacant lots require the relocation of the fiber optic ductbank the <br />RDC may require ChoiceLight, Inc. to relocate this equipment with written notice. <br />The proposed Utility Easement will assist in ChoiceLight, Inc.’s mission to bring digital equity to <br />organizations and businesses in St. Joseph County and provide valuable infrastructure to Ignition Park. <br />Staff recommends approval. <br />______________ ___________Pres/V-Pres <br />ATTEST: __________ _______ _ <br />Date: _____________ _______ <br /> APPROVED Not Approved <br />SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION <br />July 9, 2026 <br />