Keyser, W.Va. —
By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – The city of Keyser is moving on several fronts to improve its computer systems, with equipment and software upgrades expected to boost efficiency in City Hall and better track income and expenses of city government.
Meeting in a special session Monday night on the eve of Mayor Randy Amtower's trip to a conference of the National League of Cities, the Keyser City Council voted unanimously to retain Software Solutions to upgrade various computer systems at City Hall.
According to the city, previous administrations had separate contracts for computer service in City Hall and the adjoining police station. Software Solutions performed most of the work at the police station, while Mountaineer Computers in Lewisburg. The city last month terminated its contract with Mountaineer, citing $16,000 in billing by the company through the first nine months of the year, including a $400 travel charge just to arrive on site.
A report from Software Solutions cited at Monday night's Council meeting identified an ongoing problem that slowed computers in City Hall. As part of its work in the police station, Software Solutions had advised the city that the police server and the City Hall server had to be separated in order for both units to perform optimally. However, Mountainner never disconnected the City Hall server, so that computers in the city offices continue to search for a server connection that does not exist, before finally connecting to the proper server.
Under its new contract with the city, Software Solutions will disconnect the servers, provide fresh programming for an unused server the city currently owns, and provide other upgrades that will boost computer power in City Hall. The cost of the labor will be about $1,200.
In addition to improving computer efficiency, the City Hall upgrades will also improve the operation of the city's AccuFund software, which tracks income and expenses throughout city government.
In ending its contract with Mountaineer Computers, the city last week retained the services of NPO Resources, a Silver Spring, Md. firm that is helping to train city staff on AccuFund and provide related services at a significant reduction in cost from Mountaineer.
A representative of NPO traveled to Keyser immediately after last month's vote, and worked three straight days – including a Saturday -- with Mayor Amtower, the city accountant and other staff who work on billing. The cost of that visit, including travel and lodging, totaled $3,250.
In addition to the training, NPO recommended a series of system upgrades and that are being undertaken by Software Solutions to help improve the operation of the AccuFund system.
City residents will see a change in their water bills as a result of the improvements, when the city in January switches from traditional cards to fully printed pages mailed in envelopes. City officials said the new bills will enhance privacy and reduce the number of bills that are lost in the mail.
The various upgrades to the AccuFund system will cost about $2,600.
In citing the need for computer improvements, Mayor Amtower has said the city must sort out its finances as a first step to not only improving service to city residents, but also in qualifying for grants and other state and federal financial support that will help fund upcoming multi-million-dollar upgrades to city water and sewer systems.
“We can't buy a chocolate bar” until the accounting systems are sorted out, the mayor said last month.
The next meeting of the Keyser City Council will be held 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. The meeting would normally be held Wednesday, Nov. 23, but was moved because of Thanksgiving.
Source: http://www.newstribune.info/news/x76456990/Keyser-moving-to-upgrade-computer-systems
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rkerns@newstribune.info
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – The city of Keyser is moving on several fronts to improve its computer systems, with equipment and software upgrades expected to boost efficiency in City Hall and better track income and expenses of city government.
Meeting in a special session Monday night on the eve of Mayor Randy Amtower's trip to a conference of the National League of Cities, the Keyser City Council voted unanimously to retain Software Solutions to upgrade various computer systems at City Hall.
According to the city, previous administrations had separate contracts for computer service in City Hall and the adjoining police station. Software Solutions performed most of the work at the police station, while Mountaineer Computers in Lewisburg. The city last month terminated its contract with Mountaineer, citing $16,000 in billing by the company through the first nine months of the year, including a $400 travel charge just to arrive on site.
A report from Software Solutions cited at Monday night's Council meeting identified an ongoing problem that slowed computers in City Hall. As part of its work in the police station, Software Solutions had advised the city that the police server and the City Hall server had to be separated in order for both units to perform optimally. However, Mountainner never disconnected the City Hall server, so that computers in the city offices continue to search for a server connection that does not exist, before finally connecting to the proper server.
Under its new contract with the city, Software Solutions will disconnect the servers, provide fresh programming for an unused server the city currently owns, and provide other upgrades that will boost computer power in City Hall. The cost of the labor will be about $1,200.
In addition to improving computer efficiency, the City Hall upgrades will also improve the operation of the city's AccuFund software, which tracks income and expenses throughout city government.
In ending its contract with Mountaineer Computers, the city last week retained the services of NPO Resources, a Silver Spring, Md. firm that is helping to train city staff on AccuFund and provide related services at a significant reduction in cost from Mountaineer.
A representative of NPO traveled to Keyser immediately after last month's vote, and worked three straight days – including a Saturday -- with Mayor Amtower, the city accountant and other staff who work on billing. The cost of that visit, including travel and lodging, totaled $3,250.
In addition to the training, NPO recommended a series of system upgrades and that are being undertaken by Software Solutions to help improve the operation of the AccuFund system.
City residents will see a change in their water bills as a result of the improvements, when the city in January switches from traditional cards to fully printed pages mailed in envelopes. City officials said the new bills will enhance privacy and reduce the number of bills that are lost in the mail.
The various upgrades to the AccuFund system will cost about $2,600.
In citing the need for computer improvements, Mayor Amtower has said the city must sort out its finances as a first step to not only improving service to city residents, but also in qualifying for grants and other state and federal financial support that will help fund upcoming multi-million-dollar upgrades to city water and sewer systems.
“We can't buy a chocolate bar” until the accounting systems are sorted out, the mayor said last month.
The next meeting of the Keyser City Council will be held 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. The meeting would normally be held Wednesday, Nov. 23, but was moved because of Thanksgiving.
Source: http://www.newstribune.info/news/x76456990/Keyser-moving-to-upgrade-computer-systems
Movers Lake Worth
Movers San Leandro
Movers Claremont
Movers San Diego
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