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Ellsworth signs $147,687 OpenGov contract for digital modernization; council approves despite split vote
Summary
Council authorized a $147,687.18 contract with OpenGov for digital asset management, grants and procurement modules to reduce paperwork, improve transparency and support capital planning. The motion passed 5–2 after debate about scope, highway inclusion and budget apportionments.
The Ellsworth City Council voted 5–2 to authorize the city manager to contract with OpenGov for digital asset management, grants management and procurement systems at an upfront cost of $147,687.18 for FY 2026, apportioned among water, parks and recreation, and citywide professional services/TIF accounts.
City Manager Charlie Pierce said the modules will replace paper-based processes in several departments and provide a single platform for procurement, contracts, grants and asset management. "We're doing a $20,000,000 replacement of our water treatment plant," Pierce said, noting the new plant will be modern and that the OpenGov implementation would give the city a digital record of pipes, hydrants and related assets.
Pierce and staff laid out benefits including automated workflows, searchable procurement history, sealed‑bid features, grants-tracking and GIS crosswalks to existing mapping. Funding was proposed from a mix of water professional-services accounts, an economic-development TIF for parks and grants modules, and citywide professional services for procurement and contracting.
Council discussion covered whether the highway/public-works module should be included now; the manager removed that module from this motion and said it would come later. Some councilors urged caution about ongoing license costs and asked for staged implementation. Councilor White praised the webinars and materials; two councilors opposed the motion because of cost and scope concerns.
The motion to authorize the manager to contract with OpenGov for $147,687.18 (with the first bullet excluding highway) passed on a 5–2 vote. Staff will return with implementation timelines and periodic updates as the project rolls out.
