Polk County's information technology needs continue to grow

    Polk County's information technology department started only a few years ago and quickly grew from one to three employees. It will soon add another, this one in a supervisory capacity, as the Board of Commissioners approved the position description for a management information systems director.

    "When I came, we decided to add this position and got the cost approved in this year's budget," said Polk County Administrator Chuck Whiting, who has been on board since August. "IT falls under the administrative department, which is Linsey (Rood, human resources coordinator) and me, but we're not exactly IT experts."

    The current employees manage the county's information infrastructure that includes the network, servers, databases, individual computers, telecommunications and business applications. This involves more than 400 PCs plus printers communicating with 27 servers over a network connecting 13 service locations spanning 70 miles.

    With several departments working on software development as well as upgrading equipment and other technological issues, Whiting said having someone in place to supervise the IT staff in the implementation of the county's management information systems and programs will help ensure that the department is being run smoothly, while taking some of the pressure off administration.

    "We have a lot of different vendors we work with and data sets, some that required a high level of confidentiality," said Whiting. "Creating this position will help us build on these relationships and stay on top of these functions."

    As far as a timeline goes, he said he hopes to bring the matter up at the board's working session on Jan. 22, if it's ready. The position could be filled in the spring, provided things go smoothly in the search for candidates.

    "Attracting the right candidate might be challenging," Whiting admitted, referring to the problem the City of Crookston encountered when advertising for an IT director. It received only five applications, none of which even qualified for an interview. "I think it might be good to talk with the city, as we might be looking at a similar pool of candidates. The reality is that we both need a body in the position, as we are separate organizations with manpower issues that will keep the director busy."

    The position is budgeted for an annual salary of around $61,795.

Other personnel items

    • The board approved revised position descriptions for finance officer, director of property tax records and director of assessment services, brought forth by Rood. The director of property tax records, currently Michelle Cote, was amended to include acting as lead administrative staff in the absence of the county administrator.

    • Rood reported that employee participation in the county's pilot wellness initiative program is 60 percent.

    "This is good news," she said. "Next year, we expect even more participation."

    • At its final meeting of 2012, the board approved five out of the county's six employee agreements for 2013 through 2015, which call for wage increases of five percent the first year and two percent for each of the following two years. The five percent bump, Whiting explained, is backtracking to compensate for no salary increases for two years in a row. Lower health insurance costs will help balance out the cost to the county. The county's monthly contribution to the cafeteria benefits plan increases $20.

    The approved contracts involve solid waste, highway department engineer and highway maintenance units of the 49’ers, AFSCME, and department heads, non-union personnel and social services employees. The only bargaining unit left to come up with an agreement is law enforcement, which has recently switched to a different union so it could take a bit longer, he added.

    • County commissioners will also see a five percent bump in their annual compensation, to $26,966, also reflecting flat compensation the last two years. The per diem for meetings remains at $75. Commissioners vote on their compensation year to year, Whiting explained, so what they decide for next year remains to be seen.