Craighead County Justices Approve Funding ‘IT’ Need

To fund or not to fund, that was the question Monday night as Craighead County justices approved allowing the county to use the state bidding process to update its IT system.

Justices voted 7-3, with two abstaining, to use the state system to find a supplier for the issue.

Before that, the county’s Finance Committee could not come up with a solution and forwarded the issue to the full court for their review.

At its July 27 meeting, justices heard from Craighead County computer director Erin Johnson about the need for an update.

Johnson said the county was at “a critical time with storage” with only about 5% left on the county’s databases.

On Monday, Johnson reiterated his statement.

The increased work of offices, like the circuit clerk’s office, led to more data being used. Also, the plan is to add enough memory to look five years into the future, Johnson said.

Much of the debate Monday centered around the bidding process.

Administrative Assistant Tony Thomas said the county has used the state bidding process for many years, noting the Craighead County Sheriff’s Department has used the system to purchase vehicles.

The system has also helped with computer prices, Thomas said.

“The price (that is) offered is typically the better price,” Thomas said.

While most of the justices said they believed the issue needed to be addressed, there were concerns from several justices about the manner in which things were done.

“There is a problem with transparency,” Justice Garry Meadows, R-Goobertown, said. “I do not have a problem with the need for service.”

Justice Josh Longmire, R-Jonesboro, also questioned the issue.

“We should do a state bid list or in house, more than just Presidio (company that currently provides computer services for the county). It should be fair to the taxpayers,” Longmire said.

Longmire also objected to the lack of a price tag mentioned in the resolution.

While the price was not mentioned in the resolution, officials have said it would cost around $78,000 to update the system.

The inclusion of a price would have made the resolution a financial ordinance, which needs nine votes to pass.

However, Thomas said the state bidding process includes detailed information about the price of a product as well as the company’s information.

During the regular meeting, both Thomas and Justice Ken Stacks, D-Jonesboro, who chairs the Finance Committee, said state law would require some delay in getting the work done if a local bidding process was done.

Voting in favor of the move were Stacks and justices Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro, Max Render, D-Jonesboro, Terry Couch, R-Caraway, David Tennison, R-Jonesboro, Richard Rogers, R-Jonesboro and Steve Cline, R-Bono.

Voting against the move were Longmire and justices Fred Bowers, D-Jonesboro and Jim Bryant, D-Jonesboro.

Meadows and Justice Barbara Weinstock, D-Jonesboro, abstained while Justice Billie Sue Hoggard, R-Jonesboro, was absent.