Board approves software‑license support with Solutions and tables managed‑services decision

The Madison County Board of Supervisors on voice vote approved a license‑code support agreement with Solutions for the county’s election and financial software while postponing a decision on a broader managed‑services IT contract.

During department reports Auditor Michelle Brandt outlined problems with the county’s current camera platforms and network configuration and asked the board to require a detailed pricing and technical comparison from vendors, saying the county needs a single server and fail‑over capability so first responders can access any courthouse camera without separate logins. Brandt told the board the budget attachment reflects a directed $176,404 reduction to the general supplemental levy and that she would publish levy amounts after entering figures in DOM.

Public commenters criticized Solutions’ responsiveness. Steve Swanson of Winterset said his office lost telephone and Internet service for weeks and reported being shorted in a paycheck, and he urged caution before renewing the managed‑services agreement. Joel Welch raised concerns about closed sessions and transparency.

Supervisors split the IT request into two contracts. The board approved the license‑code support agreement (the software licenses used by elected officials), which several supervisors described as critical for continued operation of election and finance systems. The vote to approve the license code agreement was taken by voice and recorded as carried. Supervisors agreed to table the managed‑services portion — the county’s broader network and help‑desk support — until the auditor obtains a complete network inventory and Solutions provides a ticket log and time‑spent report for on‑site work. The board discussed hiring an on‑call local technician for hands‑on repairs as an interim option.

The chair emphasized that an RFP for managed services should be informed by an accurate inventory and a clear scope of work; several supervisors said a rushed transition could cost six figures and take months. The board directed staff to request the detailed inventory and trouble‑ticket report from Solutions and to return to the board with a cost‑benefit analysis before any managed‑services contract is approved.

Next steps: Auditor Brandt will pursue the inventory and ticket data; the managed‑services agreement will return under a separate resolution only after the board reviews the inventory and cost‑benefit analysis.