Blackford County: Leak Managed IT Pitches 50-Hour Monthly Plan for County Technology

From the Blackford County Commissioner meeting on August 17, 2026

Al Holden from Leak Managed IT presented a final proposal for county IT services, recommending a 50-hour monthly plan he called the "sweet spot" based on the company's work with Jay County and Randolph County.

Leak's IT assessment rated the county's technology on a stoplight scorecard: disaster recovery and firewall issues were flagged red as urgent, various items rated yellow, and PC hardware and email were rated green.

The proposed plan would include on-site service hours and licensing, with Microsoft licenses paid separately. Leak expects approximately 25% savings on Microsoft costs after a licensing review. Quarterly reviews would determine whether hours need adjustment.

Holden compared the cost to hiring a full-time IT director. The statewide average IT director salary is $52,300, while the Blackford County Schools IT director earns a published salary of $68,565 before benefits. Even with an internal hire, Holden said outside managed services would still be needed for server work and specialized tasks.

The contract would not start until June 2027, but Leak would begin free preliminary work immediately if selected, including a Microsoft licensing review, environment assessment, and wiring cleanup.

No vote was taken. Commissioners thanked Holden but did not commit to a decision.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Commissioner Meeting - August 17, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.