Commissioners Hold Off On Website Redesign

Oconee County commissioners want more time to consider a $7,980 proposal from Vivify Creative, Inc. to redesign the county's website.

The Watkinsville-based company offered to not only give the website a new look, but to include unlimited server space in the package.

At Tuesday's meeting, Commissioner Margaret Hale requested that the item be removed from the consent agenda for further discussion.

"I've had several phone calls since our last meeting concerning the [FY 2012] and several citizens have remarked that they don't feel at this time that we need to justify redoing the website for this amount of money--even though it is a low amount, and I agree with that-- just the perception that our departments are having to cut budgets but we're willing to go ahead and do this," she said.  Citizens also suggested other local businesses or students might offer similar services for less or free, she said.

"I think the biggest thing is the server space," Hale said. "No matter who designs it, we don't have the server space to really do what we could do.  To me, that's the really big plus in this proposal; it's the unlimited server space."

Paula Nedza, county information technology director, said the funding would come from the current FY 2011 budget.  The money was left over from a maintenance fund that was not needed after some equipment was struck by lightning and replaced by insurance, she explained.

Over the last year, the county had received several proposals and the one from Vivify Creative Inc. was the least expensive, Alan Theriault, administrative officer, said.  The Board never sent an advertised request for proposal, something that is not required for purchases under $10,000, according to the Board's current purchasing policy.

The website is the major means of communications with citizens; it's a hub of information where citizens can find out about things such as Board of Commissioners meetings, and ordinances and regulations, Theriault said.  The current website --which has been around nearly 10 years-- is not easy to maneuver, he opined. However, the perceived savings from a redesigned website is subjective, Theriault said.

"I think there are a lot of advantages to moving forward with a website design that provides more information to our citizens.  It provides more direct access to government," he said, adding that the tangible savings would come in the form of a reduction of personnel time and hard copies for applications such as permits that could be made available in on-line versions instead.

The website also leaves an impression on outside businesses looking at the Oconee area for economic development purposes, Chairman Melvin Davis said.

"That makes a great deal of impression on the individual regarding the quality of the location that they may be looking at to locate their business," he said.

Commissioners desired more time to look over the proposal, and the item was placed on the agenda for the June 28 work session.

The Board took the following action on other items that were on the consent agenda:

• Approved a $237,500 bid by Ben Hill Roofing & Siding Company, Inc. for repair work to the roof and also approved an amendment to the special purpose local option sales tax budget to allocate an additional $250,000 for unforeseen roof repairs.
• Agreed to an engagement letter with Treadwell, Tamplin & Company for a review of sewer capacity fees.  The cost cannot exceed $7,500.
• Declared 17 vehicles, two trailers and four pieces of equipment as surplus.
• Approved the Standard Operating Guidelines for Oconee County Fire Rescue
  and the Automatic Aid Assistance Agreement with Wolfskin Fire Department.