Finney County ratifies emergency one-year contract with local Imagine IT for interim IT operations

Finney County commissioners ratified an emergency one-year partner agreement with Imagine IT, a managed IT services firm with a local office in Garden City, to maintain continuity of information-technology operations after the county’s IT director resigned unexpectedly on July 11.

Interim County Administrator Gary Meager said Imagine IT was chosen because of prior work for the county (network audits in 2019 and 2022) and the firm’s familiarity with the county network. The contract, signed on July 15 under the county’s purchasing policy for emergency situations, will be paid from the county’s information-technology budget.

Representatives from Imagine IT — Andrew Loker, area vice president, and Jacob Bishop, project manager — told commissioners the firm will deliver full-stack services including service-desk support (tier 1–3), layered cybersecurity policies, project management and strategic planning. Meager said the county expects some current outside contracts could be eliminated or absorbed by Imagine IT services, producing potential savings over time.

Commissioners described the action as an emergency personnel decision and praised the administrator for quickly securing services to protect essential county operations. A motion to ratify the July 15 contract was moved, seconded and carried on a voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded.

The contract was presented to the commission and reviewed by the county counselor prior to ratification. County staff said Imagine IT personnel are already working with county IT staff to assess and continue operations while the county searches for permanent leadership.