Published: November 20, 2008 01:38 pm      

Floyd County close to ‘maxing out’ Internet capabilities

Maxed out

Floyd County government is not only facing a budget deficit, but an Internet one as well.

Brad Walker, the county’s IT specialist, told the Floyd County Commissioners on Tuesday that Internet connection capabilities for county offices are slowly “maxing out.”

Walker said in order to keep up with a new superior court as well as other Internet demands, the county needs to increase its capabilities.

But it won’t be cheap. Walker said Insight can provide the needed enhancement for $1,900 a month. Currently, the county spends $150 a month for Internet service.

While the county is facing a budget shortfall, the Internet upgrade may be a necessity with the judicial system. The county council will have to approve funding for the service.

“I understand it’s a necessity and a need, but we have to think of the financial aspect of things,” Commissioner Chuck Freiberger said.

Walker said without an upgrade, workers in the City-County Building may find themselves staring at a blank screen once the system’s memory runs out.

“If we have 60 people down, what’s that going to cost,” Commissioner Mark Seabrook said.

Seabrook said if each office could contribute part of the fee from their respective budgets, that would help ease the financial burden of the upgrade.

Commissioner Steve Bush said since most of the county’s business is done online, the upgrade is a necessity.

“We just have to find a way to pay for it,” he said.

In early 2009, Floyd County will become part of the JTAC — Judicial Technology and Automation Committee — which will eventually link together Indiana’s judicial systems across the state. That will add an extra strain on the county’s Internet strength.

Floyd County Clerk Linda Moeller said most of the work done in county offices becomes more Web-based as technology advances.