Winneshiek County wants to have a trade association evaluate its computer systems

Winneshiek County and the City of Decorah may have a trade association of Information Technology experts inspect their computer systems this summer.

The Iowa Association of Counties' Iowa Counties Information Technology Group would charge just $2,500 for the visit--to be split between the county and the city.  In exchange, some volunteers from the trade association with computer backgrounds would make an outside assessment of how the county's and city's computer systems are operating--and would recommend improvements, if needed.

County supervisors on Monday gave their go-ahead to spending the money, which had already been set aside in the county budget.  Supervisor Bill Ibanez told County IT Director Jon Lubke, "You have the money (in your budget) and we have the need."  County officials estimate an outside assessment could easily cost ten times the amount of Connect Iowa's assessment.