County IT staff updated the court on a series of phone- and voicemail-related procurements and repairs. The court ratified a statement of work for CDW Government LLC to address voicemail issues after a server corruption; staff said consultants had worked before paperwork was finalized and that roughly $2,700 in consultant hours were recorded to rebuild voicemail services.

The court also approved a RingCentral cloud-based telephone service agreement tied to an interlocal arrangement with the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG). A presenter explained the five-year deal includes an effective rebate that amounts to about five months free and recommended applying the credit to monthly charges; monthly figures and contract terms were presented and the presenter said installation and staff training could begin once the account is established, with department-level scheduling to follow. The agreement was approved for $4,421.79 by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The contracts aim to restore and modernize county telephone infrastructure and reduce downtime for county departments. Staff told the court the new phone system should reduce reliance on emergency consultant work and provide maintenance through leased phones.

Details and next steps: IT staff will coordinate training and department-level appointments for implementation and will return to the court with a schedule. The court did not authorize additional funding beyond the approved agreement.