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Algonquin, Huntley plan to share IT staff

Algonquin likes to be a good neighbor and make a profit while at it.

As soon as a new intergovernmental agreement is signed by both villages, Algonquin will begin to provide IT services to Huntley’s police department, whose computer systems are in need of upgrading and updating, Huntley Police Chief John Perkins said.

Huntley will pay $650 a day for IT staff from Algonquin to work on Huntley’s police computer systems, Perkins said. Huntley likely will need IT services once a week for the first two or three months, and then just half day a week for maintenance, Perkins said.

“Its’ a lot cheaper for us to contract Algonquin,” he said. “The whole idea is government working smarter with less, and it benefits taxpayers from both villages.”

The systems that need upgrading deal with fingerprinting, getting county records, getting jail mug shots, writing traffic tickets and more, Perkins said.

Algonquin Village Manager Bill Ganek called it “a win-win situation.”

“If we have the capability to use our staff and help other communities, it helps them at a lower rate than if they had to farm it out to outside vendors,” Ganek said. “Plus, it brings in some revenue.”

Algonquin already is providing IT support services and vehicle maintenance to the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, building inspection services to Carpentersville, and squad car maintenance to Pingree Grove, Ganek said.

However, Algonquin’s priority is always to provide services to its residents, Ganek said. “We want to make sure there is not any loss of services that we need,” he said.

The new agreement is expected to be approved Thursday night by the Huntley village board, and Tuesday by the Algonquin village board, Ganek and Perkins said.