5-14-21 BOC Budget Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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is on board and they helped in securing the initial funding. There was then discussion about the beaver management program. Dr. Stone indicated that last year the beaver program had to raise its rates and they determined based on the number of calls they ran they could not sustain the program at that rate. We decided to fund 16-18 jobs and we got that number based on averaging the number of jobs we have been doing in the past. The demand for the program is still high. It is a cost-sharing program. Information Technology - 11:00 a.m. Kyle Edwards, IT Director, presented the budget for the IT Department. One of his major priorities was updating the network and he requested an IT vehicle. There was also a request for funding for two-factor authentication to help protect against cyber-security and for funds to update to the website. We did discuss the system to provide closed captioning on the PEG channel and are not ready quite yet to move forward with that system. There was a question as to whether we can purchase second-hand materials. Mr. Edwards said we do have that available and we did that this year with COVID, we bought many laptops that were a few years old. Typically we stay away from used server equipment and switches mostly because we get better warranty if we purchase new. There was then a question about the downtown open wi-fi project form a few years ago and that project has been completed and Phase I is closed. Open Broadband company was thinking about going county- wide and they have built up their staff and so maybe they will go back to expanding. With the ARPA funding, there was discussion as to whether anyone would be interested in expanding broadband. Mr. Edwards said there is not yet, but he is not sure is if its related to the unknowns about the funding. He said they will continue these conversations. The companies we may be able to talk with is Windstream, Randolph, Spectrum, Open Broadband and maybe Central Electric Membership Corporation. There was then further discussion as to broadband within the county. Mr. Edwards told the Board the IT servers are more protected at the Douglass Drive building and a question was posed as to whether the one budgeted vehicle would help. Mr. Edwards said there is one position dedicated to just public safety so that person is on the road often. The one vehicle they currently have works, it is just showing its age. Library - 11:30 a.m. Beth List, Library Director, presented the budget for Lee County Libraries. There were not many new requests because the director was not sure where the library would be located in this coming fiscal year. She did ask for a Library Assistant I to help alleviate the work for the employees at the circulation desk and this position was recommended in the County Manager's budget. She asked for two other positions and a reclassification, but they were not recommended this year. Mrs. List said the library has a great outreach community librarian so we have a lot of asks for capital outlay for STEM equipment. There is also a lot of asks for professional development in order to make sure the staff is well equipped. As we look forward with this department, and with a thought of a new library, there will be significant amount of more space and we will need more employees when the library opens. Dr. Crumpton indicated that is why he delayed recommending the personnel until the library is closer to opening. He also cut temporary salaries because he thought the pandemic restrictions may continue to be needed as the pandemic continues to impact the county and in fact if we open sooner then we will need to fund more for those temporary salaries. 5