City makes counteroffer to Winneshiek County about shared IT equipment

The Winneshiek County Board and Decorah City Council will hold a joint meeting at Decorah City Hall at 4:00 p.m. Thursday in an effort to settle questions about shared computer equipment.

Earlier this year the City of Decorah decided to discontinue sharing IT personnel with the county.  That left the question of what to do with the equipment that had been shared by the city and county.

County officials asked the city to pay nearly $46,000 to cover the cost of IT equipment that had been purchased and shared by both governments, but for which the city had not paid the county.

On Monday City Administrator Chad Bird presented a counteroffer to the county, suggesting the city pay the county $26,267.  That used a roughly $8,000 credit for the city's payment for a new roof on the Law Enforcement Center.  County IT Director Steve Smith noted the offer was "quite a bit lower" than the $46,000 figure the county had computed.  County supervisors questioned applying the Law Enforcement Center roof money against the IT equipment sharing costs, saying they wanted to keep the two items separate. 

The letter from Bird also suggested continuing sharing all IT equipment.  County supervisors said if that would be the case, then the city shouldn't be able to deduct the remaining life of the IT server from its cost.

All those issues will be discussed again on Thursday.  Said County Board Chair John Logsdon, "Hopefully, we can make some decision."

Will Winneshiek County and the City of Decorah straighten out their agreement covering technology equipment?

County supervisors will meet at 10:45 Monday morning with County IT Manager Steve Smith to discuss the equipment that has been shared in the past by the county and the city.

Meanwhile, City of Decorah officials have scheduled their own meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall to discuss "Information and Technology funding."