Indiana: Problems mount for new county computer system

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Problems, costs mount for new county computer system

By Rich James / Staff Writer

CROWN POINT - Lake County government is about to put a $146,000 tourniquet on its new $3.1 million computer system.

The County Council was told this week that it will be asked to appropriate the money in June for training key county workers on how to use the new Lawson computer system.

The new system and the inability of county employees to properly use it has left the county in a financial quandary.

"When we can't get solid numbers, that is scary business when you deal with the kind of money we are dealing with," Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said Wednesday.

Mark Pearman, the executive director of the county's data processing department, said the system will work once people learn how to use it.

"The Lawson system has been problematic," Pearman said. "People want to use it like the old system and that's not what we bought."

Part of the money being paid to Lawson is for helping to balance the county's January books.

"I am sure there is enough blame to go around," Blanchard said. "Part of the problem is the political hirings. Part is the system itself and part is people unwilling to adapt to change."

In other business, the council discussed going to a central payroll system rather than having each county department enter its own payroll.

Blanchard said it was recently discovered that 72 people were left on the county's insurance policy after they had left their jobs, costing the county thousands of dollars.

The council also discussed establishing a day-care system for parents who work at the county government center in Crown Point.

Councilman Troy Montgomery, D-Gary, who proposed the idea, asked council attorney Ray L. Szarmach to draw up a day-care ordinance.

Montgomery said independent contractors would be sought so the program would not cost county government.

The council also heard, but didn't act, on a plea from Councilwoman Bernadette "Bobbi" Costa, D-Hammond, that identification be placed on all county-owned vehicles.

The council proposed reappointing Doug Hensley and replacing Dan Jordan with James Pope on the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals but didn't put it to a vote.

Councilmen said they wanted to wait until after current problems with tax appeals are settled.

The next council meeting is June 13

http://www.post-trib.com/news/story6/index.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), May 11, 2000


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