City, county edge a little bit closer to an agreement about shared equipment

Some major issues still remain between Winneshiek County and the City of Decorah, but the two sides edged closer to an agreement Thursday evening on shared computer equipment.

The issue arose, according to county officials, after the city decided to end its agreement with the county about sharing IT staff.  Before the city cancelled its 28e agreement with the county, there was one IT department serving two governments.  Afterward, there were two separate IT departments.

County IT Director Steve Smith told a meeting of Decorah City council members and Winneshiek County supervisors that having two separate IT departments is a big difference: "You don't allow someone else to have access to your data."

City council members, however, seemed to indicate they would be comfortable with having Smith as overall administrator of shared equipment.  If that is not the case, the county would have the city buy its own server--at an estimated cost of $65,000.  Winneshiek county has been asking for a payment of $45,967 to cover the shared cost of computer equipment, including the server.

Whether the two governments will continue to share server computers remains unresolved.  If they do not, the city will owe the county $34,267 to cover the previous computer purchases.  If they continue to share equipment for the remaining three years of expected life of the server, they would pay the full $45,967 amount.

County supervisors will resume their discussion of the issue--without the city council--next Monday.  City council members meet again October 2nd and could vote on any agreement then.