By Mari Radtke
For the second time of this council, IPIB put the Paullina City Council through training on “the public’s right to know.” Iowa code chapters 21 and 22 dictate to all public bodies what information, documents and meetings must be made available to the public, how provided to the public, records retention, what constitutes a meeting and much more.
The training included incoming members of the next council. The training, while not required, was recommended by Iowa Public Information Board because the current council is still in violation of providing certain requested records, largely because of the destruction of those records, a violation by itself.
After about an hour of instruction the council got to the business of the city.
The council “received bank reconciliation journals July 2022 through December 2022.” October 2022 file was not able to print and is being called “corrupted” by the software tech company. The explanation provided is “Since we had already done November and December we couldn’t go back.” Assistant City Clerk Alex Griggs reported, “everything’s all reconciled.”
Derek Colace of A&B IT Solutions gave a presentation for the purpose of selling Council “comprehensive IT services to support and enhance the technological infrastructure of the City of Paullina.”
The proposal includes monthly fee for services of 24/7 help desk, network monitoring and management, security awareness and training, EDR identified (anti virus) as 24/7/365, response and remediation and AI-powered monitoring. Also part of the monthly cost is Microsoft 365 Continuity Bundle (up to 5 devices) and standard email protections with Cloud to Cloud Backup, maintenance of regulatory compliance such as HIPAA, prevention of data loss M365 auto backup. Advanced automatic email encryption and advanced information archiving with protections. Also part of the monthly fee is PC back up, NAS (an external storage device,) and an IT “Roadmap.” That monthly package carries a $749.94 per monthly cost. No term for the services contract was provided. Service is for up to 5 devices.
Implementation and configuration of assessment of IT infrastructure and onboarding services (identified above) carries an individual, one-time cost of $500.00. Network devices and configuration of firewall, ceiling mount access point, 24-port PoE Switch, the 4-TB (terabyte) NAS (external storage device) to include install and setup. The one-time cost to the city for purchase and set up of these devices is $2,684.95.
Conference room set up hardware includes camera video bar with sound and speakers, microphone extensions, 5-port PoE Switch, ethernet cabling and installation and set up costs $2599.31.
The proposal includes details for each party for work requirements and standards and when additional costs may apply.
Following the presentation Council was asked to consider the proposals provided. Council instructed that any existing contract terms for service be evaluated before entering into a contract. Discussion was that they liked a service person be available to come personally if needed, with Councilperson Carol Honkomp adding, “We have not had good service,” and Councilperson Lexy Murphy agreeing. Service was shifted from Paullina’s local computer service provider, “CompuWiz” in 2022 to PC Advantage in Hartley.
Murphy moved and Honkomp seconded to accept the $2684.95 equipment bid and for the monthly managed bid if there is no problem with exiting from the current service provider. Other terms will need to be discovered also. Motion passed.
The “Conference Room” set up was tables pending how the new hardware and service works out.
Resolutions to accept new EMTs were approved. Karlee Ohrt and Kylee Massmann are now members of the Paullina Ambulance Crew as EMTs.
Josh Biery obtained his water Distribution 1 and Treatment 1 licenses. Accordingly a $1 per hour wage increase was approved. Library board members approved were Kevin Brasser and Heidi Brown for city representation. Sharla Rupert and Erin Wilson were approved as non-resident board members. Rupert is completing the final two years for Dana Schuknecht. Wilson has served on the board for two years, but no record of her county appointment could be found. O’Brien County Supervisors also approved the appointments at their Tuesday November 21 regular meeting.
Replacement of a damaged slide at the City Park was approved at a cost of $7540.84. During public comments Glenda Heithus reminded Council that she had provided them with a source of up to $2000 to assist with the cost of the replacement.