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Circuit Court judge seeks county share to update courtroom tech; council approves $31,100
Summary
Circuit Court official Chris Reed told the council the courthouse recording and display systems need updating; the Supreme Court awarded a $40,000 grant and the council approved a $31,100 county additional appropriation to complete the project and potentially switch recording software to FTR to save ongoing costs.
Chris Reed (self‑identified as "Chris Reed, circuit court") told the Vermillion County Council the courtroom technology dates to 2012 and described problems with audio, video and exhibit display that hindered jurors and remote participants. Reed said he applied for and received a $40,000 court reform grant from the Indiana Office of Court Services but needs a county additional appropriation of $31,100 to cover remaining equipment and integration costs.
Reed outlined two recording/back‑end systems: the current BIS (Business Information System) billed at about $6,947.44 per year and an alternative, FTR (For the Record), with an initial cost and much lower annual fees (packet quoted a roughly $3,700 one‑time fee and ~$795 annual updates). Reed said vendor BCS provided hardware/installation quotes in the $62,000–$65,000 range; he included a $5,000 contingency for county IT (Convergent Technologies) to synchronize systems and left buffer amounts in estimates for unanticipated costs.
Council members asked about terms and conditions, electrical and wiring needs and whether the contract requires commissioners' review; Reed said vendors will not drill structural elements in the historic courthouse and commissioners or staff could review the contract before execution. Reed explained the $40,000 grant is already in the fund and must be used this year or returned.
A motion to appropriate $31,100 from the general fund to Circuit Court (location 136) for equipment and maintenance agreements ($3,695) and office equipment ($27,405) passed by voice vote.
Reed also requested a separate $5,000 judge's salary supplement for 2026, citing past practice and statutory allowance; that appropriation was approved by the council by voice vote.
