Court hears IT responses
By Melinda L. Lucas
Shackelford County’s IT consultant, Sam Goldsmith, presented a technology update for the elected officials and also answered questions about billing charges and other issues during a Monday morning meeting on Jan. 13.
Goldsmith first reviewed upcoming projects, including the possible change from AT&T to an alternate provider for faster and less expensive internet service.
He stated that the Microsoft “end-of-life operating system transition to Windows 10 had been completed before the Jan. 14 deadline and that the physical Windows 2008 R2 server had been phased out.
An election security audit is underway, Goldsmith continued, and no major changes will be made to the IT infrastructure Feb. 11 through March 5 due to the primary election.
Goldsmith had met with county judge Robert Skelton on Dec. 31 after commissioners expressed concerns that $49,000 of the $110,000 IT budget was spent in the first three months of the fiscal year.
Replying to several questions he had been given, most of them pertaining to costs and billing, the consultant went through his detailed responses.
“Now that PCs have been replaced, the cost should flatten out or decrease if the county elects to stay on an ‘as used’ basis for IT,” said Goldsmith. “If the county is seeking more predictable gradual cost, we would recommend moving to more of a retainer/flat rate billing model for IT services.”
As directed by Skelton, Goldsmith will present a revamped agreement for the next contract year, as well as a proposal for a flat monthly rate, at the Jan. 27 meeting, when the discussion about an IT vendor will continue.
The current IT agreement expires March 27.
Other Business
•Chamber representatives asked about placing a community tree in the gazebo for the 2020 Christmas season. The item will be re-visited at a later meeting.
•Approval was given for Pct. 3 commissioner Lanham Martin to purchase a $61,000 skid steer from Warren Cat, a state “buy board” dealer.
•Skelton updated the court on plans for a handicap ramp at the JP office.
