Alma will be receiving a technology overhaul.
The city will use Bath-based BS&A Software for financial and personnel management software, online searches and payments, data conversions, database setup, project management, and implementation planning and training.
The first payment of $39,040 by the city was made during the commission meeting Tuesday with the unanimous approval of the agreement.
Overall, the city will pay $114,235 for the agreement.
“It’s a major updgrade,” said City Manager Matt Schooley on Wednesday. “It ties all of our systems together. Training, support and ease of use will all be much better.”
He said the system change will pay for itself within a five-year span.
“Our old system was very inefficient and difficult,” Schooley said.
The city will make two other payments in the future: $39,165 due at the start of training, and $36,030 due at the completion of training. A timeframe to start the software changeover and training will be determined within the next two weeks; BS&A’s schedule also needs to be looked at, he said.
“We are assuming things will start moving rather quickly,” Schooley said.
Also at the meeting:
• the city’s fiscal year 2018-19 budget was unanimously approved. It will go into effect July 1 through June 30, 2019;
• a public hearing was set for 6:05 p.m. on June 12 to consider creating an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for the property at 111 W. Superior St. for the purpose of creating upper story apartments;
• resolutions were passed amending city ordinances to allow for the sending of civil infraction notices by first class regular mail and sending civil infraction citations by either certified mail return receipt requested, restricted to the alleged violator, or by parcel service with delivery restricted to the alleged violator; and
• Charlotte Schmidtke was re-appointed to the Alma Public Library Board after a unanimous commission vote to a five-year term ending May 1, 2023.
The next city commission meeting is at 6 p.m. on June 12 in the commissioners’ room at the Alma Municipal Building at 525 E. Superior Street. A work session at 5:30 p.m. precedes the meeting.