Good leaders know their priorities
When public funds are short, some things have to slide a bit. A bumpy road might wait for repairs, an older vehicle is allowed to limp along for another year, even a retiring staffer’s replacement can be put on hold.
But Kane County officials are learning the hard way that maintaining an expensive computer system is not something to put off. And there’s a lesson for others, too, who may try to make amends — on the public’s dime — for some poor decisions.
As reported this week by James Fuller, the county’s courts and public safety computer system purchased in 2002 has become so dysfunctional it’s creating backlogs that waste workers’ time and taxpayers’ money. It may even be endangering residents who are seeking an order of protection and must wait up to two days.
Now the county is considering purchasing an entirely new system for $12.6 million. Or, a consultant says, Kane needs to spend $5.9 million on enhancements, support staff and leasing contracts to patch up the ineffectual system, which at this point is being used by the clerk’s office alone.
How it came to this is anybody’s guess, and there is no shortage of finger pointing. Officials say the county never transitioned well to the system, created by JANO Justice Systems. A company co-founder contends that years of tinkering by the clerk’s office have snowballed into the current debacle. Clerk Deb Sellyers complains the product was a bad fit for the county in the first place, and she ended the contract for its maintenance after four years.
Who’s right? As in many cases involving several interests, the blame probably can be spread around. All sides could have done better; what matters now is how the problem is fixed.
Relatively speaking, computer software has a short shelf life, and upgrades and replacements to government and business systems are a constant. In the case of Kane County, however, the clerk’s information technology team acknowledges that in-house maintenance of the JANO system barely exists. This should not have been allowed to happen. Government leaders need to ensure proactive and regular monitoring of computer system efficiency and not wait until a meltdown forces expensive changes.
Kane County should find a quick, economical solution with an eye on a system’s long-term functionality and consistent maintenance. Perhaps a new purchase is warranted, or maybe a retooling of the current system is all that’s necessary. Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay’s statement Wednesday that the decision will involve many rather than one elected official is a good start.
Regardless of how Kane County gets out of this mess, the lesson stands for all stewards of public money. Some things can indeed be put off. Others should not be. Knowing the difference is the mark of wise leadership.