Kane Co. hires $90,000 technology consultant

A Seattle-based consulting company will guide Kane County through the proposal process that will eventually usher in a technology upgrade for the courts system that may cost up to $12.6 million.

A committee led by former Chief Judge F. Keith Brown agreed to recommend MTG Management Consultants for the consulting job Thursday. MTG Management Consultants was one of two finalists after an initial applicant pool of five companies went through an interview process.

The National Center for State Courts was the other finalist and will remain in the mix as the county tries to come to final terms with MTG Management Consultants.

Those final terms will involve settling on a timetable and scope of work that fits within the $90,000 the county budgeted to hire the consultant.

But members of Brown’s committee already said they fully expect to spend up to $60,000 beyond that budget by the time all the work to select and implement the new technology is complete. The county’s in-house information technology team is trying to keep that cost as low as possible by determining what tasks it can handle on its own.

Both Brown and Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said they checked on the work MTG Management Consultants performed in Peoria County and liked what they were told.

“We were told they had saved the county a considerable amount of money that was far greater than what they paid for their services,” Brown said. “I think we have a very good team of people coming here to work.”

MTG Management Consultants will now deliver an itemized list of project tasks, the resources the company will dedicate to those tasks and the hours required to complete the tasks. The county will counter with its own vision based on its budget. As long as the two sides find a compromise, the contract could be locked in as soon as next week Friday.

By then, Brown’s committee should also have its final member. The settlement agreement with Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller that created the new technology committee required a member of the public be appointed. That has not happened so far. The appointment is the responsibility of Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay.

Brown said he’s been in discussions with McConnaughay to interview some finalists for the appointment. Brown said he expects to complete those interviews within a week so the public member can be seated.