Tuesday, March 16, 1999
Butler halts contract for computers
After 4 years and $600,000, it's not done
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — After spending $600,000 over four years for a computer system that still isn't fully operational, the Butler County commissioners decided Monday to end their contract with the company that designed it.
The commissioners, expressing anger and frustration with the project, voted not to renew their contract with BIS Computer Solutions of La Crescenta, Calif.
The county signed a contract with BIS in July 1995 to design an information system for the courts, the sheriff's department and the clerk of courts.
The computer system originally was supposed to be in place in two years, but today only a small portion is operating.
“Disappointment isn't the word,” Commissioner Courtney Combs said. “We've been very patient, overly patient.”
The county hasn't determined yet how much money it owes BIS.
The county judges are considering a proposal by Mr. Fox to suspend the project and reorganize project operations so the commissioners have more direct control.
A consultant hired by the county to evaluate the justice information system issued a report criticizing the county and BIS for mishandling the project. It said high-ranking county officials needed to be more directly involved in it.
Under Mr. Fox's proposal, the project would be controlled by a five-member executive committee composed of a commissioner, a common pleas court member, the county audi tor, clerk of courts and finance director.
The commissioners would have veto power over all executive committee actions.
The existing justice information system task force would be reorganized as a 15-member advisory board with a county commissioner as chairman.
“Project management goes to the heart of our problems,” Mr. Fox said. “Nobody was in charge. There's no excuse for what happened in this project.”
Each department and court should be allowed to choose its computer system, and the county will try to link all the elements into a centralized system.
The commissioners said they don't know yet how much the reconfigured computer project would cost.
Miro Macho, BIS president, said he would wait for official notification of the county's termination of its contract with his company before deciding how to respond.
He said local politics and the failure of some county staff and public officials to devote enough time to the project contributed to its problems.
“It shouldn't be that hard,” Mr. Macho said. “I guess there's a lot of politics in the county.”
Portions of the sheriff's department jail management package are operating.
The packages for adult probation, the prosecutor's office, domestic relations court and juvenile court could start operating within weeks, said Ken Glunt, the justice information system project manager.
Butler County began developing plans for this project in 1991. But since then, computer technology has advanced so much that certain aspects of the BIS system are outmoded, Mr. Fox said.
Mr. Macho said he is willing to work with the county to upgrade the system.
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