Commissioners approve software contract for County Treasurer’s office, other contracts, proposals and requests
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
The Stephens County Commissioners approved a variety of proposals and requests at their regular meeting Monday, May 10.
They approved three contracts with Future Energy Solutions for lighting at several additional buildings that had not been included in previously approved contracts; approved a request by the Stephens Regional Special Utility District to run a water line across County Road 195; and approved the second payment to Jimmie McMillian for the purchase of the fuel farm for the airport. They also approved a contract with i3 Software and Services for software for the County Treasurer’s office.
Wendy Russom with i3 Software and Services addressed the Stephens County Commissioners Court on Monday regarding software for the treasurer’s office. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The commissioners voted to table an agenda item about an upgrade to the security system at the courthouse until a representative from SecureTech Systems, Inc., can make a presentation to the court.
County Judge Michael Roach voiced his displeasure with a presentation that had been given to the Commissioners Court in March on behalf of NetData and GHS Collections Management System regarding the collections for the Stephens County Justice Court. According to Roach, the presentation by Jeff Gloor seemed inaccurate at the time of the March 22 meeting, but Roach did not have the details in front of him to verify everything.
“I didn’t have the numbers at my fingertips at that time but since have gone back and looked at that, and that presentation was absolutely disastrous when it comes to his accuracy,” Roach said. “It was off by two years, he was using OCA data, which includes all of the court transactions, not just fines and fees, which is what those collection agencies report. It also includes the evictions and civil cases and those kinds of things. So, the story that was told that particular day did not match what happens in reality in the Justice Court.”
Roach said that despite the discrepancies in the presentation, Justice of the Peace Steve Spoon wants to switch the collections to GHS from the law firm that has been handling the collections, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott‚ LLP. Spoon wants the change because the GHS system puts less of a burden on the Justice Court clerk. Roach went on to say that the Commissioners Court typically goes along with the decisions made by the elected officials when it comes to choosing the companies that they do business with unless it in any way causes damage to the county.
The contract with GHS had already been approved at the March meeting, and the item on the May 10 agenda was to accept the resignation of Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott from their contract. Roach said the law firm had met with Spoon and agreed to withdraw, since Spoon wasn’t happy with their services.
Because it was Spoon’s decision to switch to GHS, the commissioners accepted the resignation of Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott‚ LLP. However, Roach voted against the issue as a form of protest.
The meeting wrapped up with the commissioners deciding to take no action regarding a burn ban for the county. Currently, there is no burn ban in effect for Stephens County. The burning of brush only is allowed in the county, outside of the city limits of Breckenridge.
Cutline, top photo: The Stephens County Court met on Monday, May 10, for a regular meeting. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
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