The Manhattan Municipal court system has initiated its first step in aquiring a new software system officials say will streamline operations, and could provide a direct link to local law enforcement agencies.
City Attorney Bill Raymond presented the first reading of an ordinance to the city commission on Tuesday night to recommend the new system from Tyler Technologies. The cost for the system was quoted as being $83,533 for the first year, and then$40,232 a year for upkeep and service fees.
Raymond says those costs can be covered by a ten dollar “technology fee” from non-parking related cases. Revenues from the proposed fee were estimated to be around $73,800.
Mayor John Matta asked how much money would be saved in efficiencies with the system, but Raymond was unable to answer. City staff was asked to provide the analysis of cost savings from the system at the next reading.
A normally tame consent agenda reading was interrupted by some questioning of a new appointment by Mayor John Matta to the SSAB. Flint Hills Tea party member Chuck Henderson received the position with a 3 to 2 vote from the commission. Commissioner Rich Jankovich approved of the appointment, but wanted to verify the Mayor’s and Hendersons intent after reading the application.
Commissioners Usha Reddi, and Karen McCulloh cast the dissenting votes. Reddi says she doesn’t believe Henderson and the social services advisory board are a good fit, and McCulloh stated she was dissappinted with the application and wished for more diversity in the position.
Henderson says a misunderstanding of his intent on his application may have lead to some confusion in the city commission as he was trying to be humorous, and give credit to the current SSAB member who recruited him. Henderson also stated the application itself was not conducive to providing information on his background in the automotive and aerospace industry.
Commissioner Wynn Butler says Henderson’s appointment will help diversify the current board, and allow another viewpoint to be heard during the board proceedings.
