A project to remodel the Barton County Treasurer’s Office in order to make room for state-mandated computer equipment changes moved forward Tuesday when the Barton County Commission approved payment of a designer’s fee.
The issue had been tabled at the last commission meeting, as discussion continued on the funding options.
Treasurer Kevin Wondra was told by one state official that he could use motor vehicle receipt funds for the remodeling, however County Administrator Richard Boeckman determined there was a Kansas Attorney General opinion that was opposed to that funding.
That left the choice of using a line item from the treasurer’s budget, or paying for the design work from the county capital improvement fund.
Commissioners approved using the treasurer’s fund.
Commissioner John Edmonds commented that he had hoped the county “could squeeze it out of the state” because the changes are being ordered by the state. “Since they called the tune, they should pay the piper,” Edmonds commented.
But that’s not happening.
Wondra reported earlier that he had sought the help of Terry’s Residential Design to develop a design for the office, and he’s in the process of seeking bids for the remodeling work. The design work cost about $3,000, Wondra said earlier.
Wondra reported earlier that “the Treasurer’s Office has received nine computers and monitors and nine printers and desktop scanners will soon be delivered from the state of Kansas. The Department of Motor Vehicles is providing the equipment to aid in running the new MOVRS (Motor Vehicle Registration Solution) and the ATMM (Accounting Transaction Money Manager) programs. These programs are mandated for all motor vehicle transactions being done in the state. From the specifications received, the equipment cannot be accommodated in the space allocated to each work station at the current counter.”
Wondra said there just isn’t sufficient room the way the office is currently designed.
The new system is schedule to go on line on July 5, Wondra reported.
Training on the new equipment is due to begin May 1, so the time frame for the remodeling is short, Wondra explained earlier.