As La Salle County prepares to part ways this month with Illinois Valley Community College as its computer services provider, the clock is ticking on the sticky procedural question of how to transition the four-person college staff onto the county staff.

The County Board's Information Technology Committee spent the better part of its two-hour meeting Thursday morning debating the matter before adjourning without taking any action.

It now appears the full County Board will make a decision at its meeting on Friday, Nov. 20.

Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, told The Times he plans to seek ratification of the appointment of Don Pollex, the IVCC employee who now directs the county's computer system, as the county's own Information Technology director.

The college has been providing computer services to the county for some 30 years, but by taking over the operation the county will save an estimated $100,000 from the approximately $400,000 it now pays the college annually for contracted services.

The changeover is effective with the Tuesday, Dec. 1, start of the county's fiscal year.

Besides Pollex, the other IVCC staff members involved are Bob Latty, Lenny Trujilo and student worker Samantha Pollex, who is Don Pollex's daughter. All four were hired by IVCC.

At the meeting Thursday, Hicks said he strongly favors having the county hire the four-person team to perform exactly the same jobs they are now doing.

"They are trained in the software we use now, they know the network, they know the site specifics, they know what's going on around here. It seems the most appropriate move is to keep those people where they are now. That's the wisest move for us, in my opinion."

Hicks, County Treasurer Don Lamps, County Auditor Jody Wilkinson and Kristy Swango of the County Clerk's Office all praised the current workers.

But board members Stephen Abel, D-Mendota; Susan Thornton, R-Ottawa; and Bob Greenwalt, D-Sandwich, all balked at the idea.

While not questioning the team members' abilities, they said the director's position needed to be publicly posted and advertised.

"I think when you are creating a new management position you need to post and advertise for it," said Abel. "If Don is the best person for the job, that's fine."

Thornton said that is the correct way to proceed, even if Pollex were to be the choice and the posting appeared to the public as a charade.

Greenwalt suggested Don Pollex be named acting director until the position could be posted and all applicants considered.

"Possibly, we would find a candidate with a fresh, different approach that adds new insights that are desperately needed."

Randy Freeman, R-Lostant, after a short private caucus with Hicks, ended up supporting Hicks' position.

"I see the reasoning behind posting the position, but I also see Jerry's reasoning behind why we should go ahead with what we're doing because of the time frame involved," Freeman said.

It would take a new person months and perhaps a year to come up to speed in the position, Freeman added.

Freeman noted Hicks took heat last May for pushing the immediate appointment of Robert Kaminski from Grundy County to the unposted vacancy of the county maintenance supervisor.

"I agree that in that case he picked the right guy and got a guy in that position today who's doing a hell of a good job — something we haven't had for a long time around here.

"But, the difference is clear cut: That was a guy he brought in, and Don is a guy who is here now. This gentleman has been here for 14 years and has worked the position, knows the position, knows what the county does, knows what we need."

Three committee members were absent: Chairman Art Rigby, D-Peru, who was celebrating the birth of a grandson; Ron Dittmer, D-Streator, and Mary "Kelly" Reffert, D-La Salle.




'Sow's ear' software costly to county

Nearly four years after approving a contract for new computer software, La Salle County has spent twice the contract amount but still has no idea when the system may be functional.
Auditor Jody Wilkinson, a strongly vocal opponent to the decision to go with ICS Advantage in early 2006, didn't mind rubbing it in Thursday morning when she told the County Board's Information Technology committee she thought there was still hope the system could be made to work.
"I have always maintained that if we spend enough money we can indeed make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
"A lot more work, a lot more money and we will make it operational."
By a vote of 24-3, the County Board had voted to approve a $214,000 contract with Aurora-based ICS Advantage.
The accounting system was to be used by multiple offices in the county, including the auditor's and treasurer's offices and highway department.
The decision came down to two companies — ICS and Michigan-based New World Systems, which bid $231,000 for its software.
So far, Wilkinson reported, the county has spent $426,000 on the software.
A consultant was hired at $13,400 to perform some of the needed troubleshooting analysis of the software. Thursday, the four committee members present unanimously recommended spending  $15,000 for additional consultant work.
"There will be an end to this, someday, hopefully," said Randy Freeman, R-Lostant.