SHERIFF KOCHERT … An update on MARCs, a request for a new roof and the need for new software to have a better scheduling system were all discussed at the February 6, 2023 Williams County Commissioners session. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Williams County Commissioners, Lew Hilkert, Bart Westfall and Terry Rummel, started their morning a little later, but had a full day on Monday, February 6, 2023. At 10 a.m. they held the general session, approving the following:
-Resolution 59: supplemental appropriations.
-Resolution 60: entering into IV-D contract between Williams County JFS and Juvenile Court Magistrate Services for Williams County Child Support at a cost not to exceed $43,801 for term of January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023.
-Resolution 61: entering into IV-D contract – Williams County Department of JFS submitted to the Williams County Commissioners a contract for IV-D Clerk of Court Services for Williams County Child Support at a cost not to exceed $89,972.44 with a term of January 1, 2023- December 31, 2023.
-Also Signed – 2023 asphalt paving; township right of way for Frontier Communications; permit for Spectrum on County Road G; credit card appropriations for prosecutor’s office for February; treasurer’s financial statement.
-minutes for February 2, 2023.
-payment of bills as submitted by the auditor.
At 10:30, they met in executive session with Williams County Sheriff Tom Kochert to discuss security matters and came out with no action taken.
Kochert then discussed a few issues with the commissioners in public session, beginning with the need for a different scheduling software.
He said that the software they use presently is “relatively archaic.” He shared about two different software available, being Right Stuff and Plan It Police.
He said that Right Stuff does more but the cost is prohibitive so he recommended that they purchase Plan It Police.
They discussed the benefits of the new software and determined that they want to hold a meeting with other 24/7 departments to see if it would be helpful to purchase it for all of them.
Secondly, he shared about the dire need of a new roof for the sub-station located at the fairgrounds in Montpelier.
He gave the commissioners some estimates he had gotten for the job. They talked about whether to do a normal house roof replacement or to go with a steel roof.
It was determined that he will get the companies he had quotes from, to give him an estimate for a steel roof and whether they would recommend that.
The commissioners shared their concerns that they really don’t know if in the future that house might be replaced by something else and they don’t want to put a steel roof on it if that might be the case. The discussion ended with the determination that it does need to be done, but they will check on steel prices first.
The last topic was an update on the MARCs system, with the sheriff saying it has been a great addition to the county safety.
When they have had a few highspeed chases, it has allowed them to technologically be free to just focus on the chase and know that everyone else is doing what they need to be doing.
He feels it is an excellent addition and is glad it was done. “Cannot overstate how much it has helped,” he said. Commissioner Rummel added that it has been a wonderful addition for the dispatchers, stating, “It was expensive but it was a good investment into Williams County.”
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com