Mount Pleasant Technology Needs Going to Finance Committee

Moving into a new home usually means getting new stuff and the Village of Mount Pleasant is no different. Some of the needs listed with the Technology Committee, however, have not been filled.

That committee's list came before the Village Board on Sept. 26. Trustees voted to turn matters back to committee so the Finance/Legal/License Committee will take up the purchases at its next meeting in October. They are expected to approve several purchases from that Techology Committee list.

"I'm on the committee and am a little disturbed that these purchases were in the original plan and are still not done," said Trustee Karen Albeck at the start of the discussion at Board meeting.

But Trustee Gary Feest, also on the committee, said he thought the list should be turned back to the Finance Committee for debate.

"They control the checkbook," he said. "They should be the word on whether or not these things get funded."

Items on the list were to have been paid for from the contigency fund, Logan Martin, community development coordinator, agreed, but were never formally budgeted.

"The items were intended for purchase, but only if the contigency fund was available," he said.

Vicki Matter, lead accountant, verified there is $500,000 in the contigency fund to pay for the items.

Since the Finance Committee can approve single purchases up to $25,000, things on the Technology list do not have to go back before the board.

Here's the list:

• New computer for the Fire Department ($1,376 for 2)

• Color printer for the Police Department ($730 for 2)

• Fax/printer/copier for the Police Department ($3,220 for 2)

• Overhead PowerPoint projector with computer that can interface with existing monitors and smartboard for the Police Department ($1,500)

• Three Farscan units for monitoring ($9,000)

• 48-port net switches ($1,880 for 2)

• Fiber ports ($1,140 for 6)

• POE 48-port net switches ($2,932 for 2)

• PC monitor ($178)

• New computers to replace failed systems ($2,065 for 3)