By JIM MAURER
STAFF WRITER
The Hancock County commissioners want to replace the county’s analog phone system with a digital system by September, a change that has been discussed for several years and has an estimated price of more than $800,000 for equipment and service.
Curt Smith, information technology manager for the county, said the change will replace the county’s 31-year-old system, currently handled by AT&T. It includes 296 handsets and 322 phone lines.
It would cost an estimated $359,665 for equipment and an estimated $464,340 over five years in monthly service fees. The equipment can be leased, and the service fee would be payable at about $7,739 per month.
Cindy Land, assistant Hancock County prosecutor, will prepare a resolution for the commissioners to seek proposals from companies interested in providing the service and equipment.
Separately, the commissioners approved a more than $34,700 contract with Garlock Brothers Construction, Findlay, for repairs to the county-owned building that houses the offices of the state license and motor vehicle bureaus.
The building, at 8210 Hancock County 140, was damaged last year when a waterline broke and flooded the north wing of the building. Floor and ceiling repairs are among the work to be done.
The commissioners also passed the first of two resolutions required to place a 1.2-mill, 10-year levy on the May ballot for Hancock County Job and Family Services. The money would mainly go for children services and housing.
The tax would generate about $2.31 million a year and cost about $42 a year for the owner of a residential property appraised at $100,000. It was reported previously that the tax would cost the property owner $35 annually, but that amount was for a 1-mill levy.
The resolution requests the Hancock County auditor to certify the tax rates required to generate the requested amount. A second resolution will propose the ballot language and ask the county elections board to place the issue on the May 8 ballot.
Separately, the commissioners approved a resolution to contract with Steve Wilson, a former county engineer, to continue providing sanitary engineer services for the county landfill. He will be paid a maximum of $20,000 a year.
The commissioners also amended an agreement with Tyler Technologies for records management computer software for the sheriff’s office. The county will pay about $232,000 this year and about $172,000 next year. Installation is expected to begin this year. Findlay will also pay about $700,000 for the software so the city and county will each have access to the records.
Separately, Schulte Put-Han Farm Operations, with a bid of $175 per acre, was awarded the lease for about 190 acres of county-owned farmland in the 7700 block of Hancock County 140, behind county-owned buildings.
The three-year lease will provide $33,250 annually for the county.
Commissioner Brian Robertson announced that Sarah Mutchler, a clerk in the commissioners’ office, has assumed the duties of county operations coordinator. She replaces Heather Pendleton, who previously split her time between the commissioners and the county prosecutor’s office, but is now working full time in the prosecutor’s office.
Maurer: 419-427-8420
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