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Osage County authorizes $50,861 emergency payment to IT vendor and appoints interim payment processor
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Summary
Facing an imminent IT cutoff, the Osage County Board approved a $50,861 payment to Computer Information Concepts, authorized a one-time wire and passed a resolution appointing Tempest Harrison to process approved payments while the county hires a controller.
Osage County commissioners voted to approve immediate payment to their IT contractor, Computer Information Concepts, and to establish temporary authority for county payment processing after the vendor warned county services could be suspended for nonpayment.
The board approved a voucher and directed county staff to initiate an ACH/wire to CIC for $50,861 to cover an annual contract and related training costs. Commissioners discussed CIC's notice that services could be curtailed if not paid; county staff said an ACH file had been initiated and that banks typically show pending transactions within two business days, but the board moved to ensure funds would reach CIC before the vendor's stated cutoff.
Why it matters: CIC provides core IT services used for county operations, including tax payments and payroll processing. A suspended IT contract could interrupt daily county business and frustrate taxpayers.
Commissioners also adopted a separate resolution authorizing Tempest Harrison, reporting to Carl Miller (the CIC administrator), to process approved county orders and payments in CIC "until further action of the board." The resolution directs Treasurer Rebecca Holmberg and the board chair to be joint signatories for a one-time wire to CIC, and it establishes daily noon open meetings as a standing check-in for accounts-payable status while the county finalizes hiring a permanent controller.
Board members debated whether the commission has statutory authority to appoint alternate staff to make payments when the clerk's office withholds payment; county legal counsel cited KSA authorities for the board's power to examine and settle county accounts and advised the temporary appointment as an operational stopgap. The board approved both the payment authorization and the temporary assignment in open session.
What the board approved: - Motion to approve the CIC voucher and initiate payment to Computer Information Concepts for $50,861 (motion carried). - Resolution 2026-006-A authorizing Treasurer Rebecca Holmberg and the chair to execute a one-time wire to CIC on or before the close of business the following day (approved). - Resolution 2026-007-A appointing Tempest Harrison to process county orders and payments within CIC until further action of the board (approved).
The commission directed staff to confirm bank pending status before the end of the day and to notify CIC of the county's action. The board also authorized posting daily noon open meetings for updates on AP status until the next regular meeting.
The chair said no further action was taken in executive session; commissioners signed the approved documents before adjourning the meeting.
