Software problems don't end contract

Columbia County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to continue engaging the services of a software provider of an operating system many officials dislike.

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The commission voted to pay Munis software provider Tyler Technologies more than $180,000 for licensing and support agreements.

The Munis software has been blamed for such foul-ups as the county Finance Department sending out checks without bank account and routing numbers printed on them, and for billing glitches with the Water Utility Department that many employees had to work Memorial Day weekend to fix.

Commissioners also agreed to pay three salaried workers $2,308.62 in overtime for their extra work.

Many of the glitches resulted from the county's status as an early adopter, meaning it received reduced costs on software that still contained some bugs.

Officials have since removed the county's early adopter status, but Munis' reputation is such that some officials, such as Tax Commissioner Kay Allen, sought and won permission not to use the software in her office.

Also at the meeting, the commission voted to send a request to build a war monument at the Columbia County Memorial Gardens to the Monument and Public Art Committee for consideration.

The statue is of a combat rifle sticking in the ground with an Army helmet atop it. At the base is engraved "Some Gave All." It is meant to honor veterans of wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Commissioner Scott Dean said the Monument and Public Art Committee will review the proposal and return a recommendation to the full commission at a later date.