County buys imaging system
Marion County commissioners agreed Monday, 3-0, to buy a Real Vision Imaging system for several courthouse offices' use.
The package, which includes software and scanners, will cost about $30,200. However, all but about $8,200 of this is already available and earmarked for the purchase.
The $22,000 so earmarked is: $10,000 from the courthouse computer fund; $2,000 each from the county clerk's, county treasurer's, register of deeds', and county appraiser's offices; and a $4,000 transfer from the vehicle fund.
County Clerk Carol Maggard said the system will save much labor, time, and copy paper.
Each office will be able to capture documents for electronic storage, as necessary, with no paper involved.
This will save thousands of pieces of paper, the department heads said. "We're drowning in paper, is what we're doing," said Fay Makovec, register of deeds.
Commissioner Leroy Wetta wondered aloud if "we're opening up a floodgate for spending on technology, equipment," with the decision to purchase "already halfway done," or made, when it comes before the commission.
However, Wetta seconded another commissioner's motion to make the buy.
Commission Chairman Howard Collett said, "We're on a technological treadmill here, where we have to keep adding stuff from now till doomsday, it seems."
Dianna Carter, appraiser, said other Kansas counties have the Real Vision Imaging system and love it.
The four departments working together to help make the purchase seemed good and encouraging to Wetta, he said.
County Treasurer Jeannine Bateman reported that funds on hand on May 30 totaled $6,461,775.49. A total of $1,518,802.88 is in the county's general fund, and $872,255.11 is in the road and bridge fund.
Sixty-one percent of property tax payments due had been collected by May 30.
A total of $1,596.66 was paid out from special — funds for commodities, contracts, meeting attendance, and personnel, Bateman reported.
David Brazil said an adjustment of the fees for solid-waste collection service for some would make the public "more comfortable."
He advocated a reduction in that fee for people who live in the county six months or less out of the year.
Brazil, director of planning/zoning/transfer station and county sanitarian, said the new scale for the transfer station should be here by Thursday, and in full operation by Monday.
He reported also that the bathroom at the transfer station needs to be remodeled, and he may use in-house labor (county employees) to do the job.s
