Commission approves contract for county website redesign
- Charlene Sims, Journal staff
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com
MOUND CITY – After more than six months of discussions, posting requests for proposals and seeking bids, Linn County has approved a contract by Manhattan, Kan.-based CivicPlus to redevelop and host the county’s website.
At the Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, June 23, commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson voted to sign a contract with CivicPlus for an initial development fee of nearly $25,700 and an annual maintenance and updating fee of more than $5,700. There is no annual fee for the first year of the contract.
Linn County Economic Development Director Chasity Ware recommended the commission approve the contract with CivicPlus.
Other bids received in the third round of bidding on June 2 were from Mound City-based Redlogic and Louisburg-based Social: Managed.
Social: Managed’s bid in the final round was nearly $24,000 to redevelop and a monthly hosting fee of $99.
Redlogic’s initial bid for web design on April 28 was $22,860 with any updates or modifications charged on an hourly fee basis.
However, in May Ware told commissioners that there were incongruities in the CivicPlus and Redlogic bids and asked to restructure the bidding requirements.
Redlogic’s new bid increased to $39,000 to redesign the website plus a $450 month charge and an additional $750 quarterly charge.
The county’s current website has been developed and maintained by the county’s Information Technology (IT) department for many years. Last December, Information Technology Director Chris Martin introduced a representative from CivicPlus who explained how his company could develop a website for Linn County and would put together a proposal.
Currently, department heads are responsible for getting the information to Martin to put on the site. With the new company department heads will be responsible for putting the information on themselves for their departments. Up to 12 people will be able to enter information onto the website.
That was a cause for concern by County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta, who asked why it was necessary for that many people to have access to the “back side” of the website.
Ware said that the vision for the update would be to allow each individual department to upload updated information on the site.
Ware also said that one of the reasons she recommended CivicPlus was that it promised to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by 2026.
When Hamilton asked Ware what ADA-compliant in terms of the website meant, Ware said she wasn’t certain.