Alpena County approves application for software grant, plans three-year contract with new vendor

Alpena County commissioners voted to allow staff to apply for a reimbursement grant to offset the cost of replacing the county's current software with a new system from Fiddler Technologies and to proceed with a three‑year contract structure.

The grant application will seek $12,000 this year (the maximum award for a single year) with a second $12,000 request next year, county staff said. "The most we can get is 12,000 in 1 year. So I'm gonna apply for 12 this year and then get the other 12 next year," Mandy, county staff, told commissioners.

The county expects a total vendor contract of about $93,000 over three years. With the $24,000 in anticipated grant funds applied across two years, staff said the county's remaining cost would be roughly $69,000, billed over the three‑year contract. Mandy said the vendor will work with Alpena County so the county will not have to pay the full $24,000 up front because the grant is a reimbursement grant.

Commissioners asked whether the county had budgeted the match. Mandy said she had discussed the matter with Logan and that payments to the current software provider are already budgeted; she added the county has an automation fund that can cover overages if necessary. A commissioner also noted assurances from Logan that the change would not touch the general budget and that the funding would be accounted for through existing budget lines or grants.

A motion to approve the grant application and proceed with the contracting process passed during the meeting after no additional questions were raised.

County staff said the new vendor offers "way more services and security," and staff emphasized the vendor is willing to bill across years to align with grant reimbursements. No detailed contract language was approved at the meeting; staff were authorized to move forward with the application and vendor arrangements.

The vote was recorded as carried by the committee.