Delaware County commissioners on Aug. 18 approved the ranking of a vendor to review and remediate the county website for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, moving the procurement toward contract negotiations despite questions about cost and timing. Jane Hawes, the county communications director, told the board the review committee received 15 proposals and recommended A360 Enterprises LLC, doing business as Alliant.

The vote sends the ranking forward for negotiation. Commissioners recorded unanimous approval on the resolution to rank the proposals and proceed with the recommended vendor.

Why it matters: a federal rule requires counties with 50,000 or more residents to bring public websites into compliance by late April 2026, and officials said failing to act could expose the county to legal risk and potentially higher costs. Commissioners urged staff to pursue alternatives, consult national associations and elected representatives, and try to reduce the price before final contracting.

County communications director Jane Hawes summarized the procurement and the review committee’s work, saying the recommended vendor was “most advantageous.” Commissioner Gary Merrill warned the estimated figures—“350, 370, dollars 380,000 is a lot of money to update our websites and I'm concerned about the cost to our taxpayers,”—and asked staff to seek more information and possible alternatives before returning for final approval.

Commissioner Jeff Benton urged scrutiny of the cost and suggested contacting state and national representatives and trade groups to seek flexibility. Commissioner Barb Lewis said the county must comply with current standards while exploring simplifications that might reduce cost.

The board also discussed that some jurisdictions contract with third-party turnkey website hosts, which bear responsibility for compliance, and that businesses and private entities are likewise affected by the rule. Hawes and county staff said the county’s site was compliant with earlier standards but that the technical requirements have been tightened.

What happens next: the board approved the ranking resolving to negotiate with the recommended vendor; commissioners directed staff to assemble an elected-officials briefing and to research other counties’ quotes and possible legislative relief. A final procurement vote is expected after negotiations and additional information are returned to the board.

The resolution passed on Aug. 18 by unanimous vote.