Company makes pitch for technology service (11/14/06)

Jay County Commissioners heard PhoeNX Technologies representatives explain how they could assist the county with its technology needs then told them to immediately begin a free assessment.

Ryan Stanley, account executive with PhoeNX Technologies, headquartered in Muncie, explained to Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr how the company could assist the county with its web site upgrades as well as provide any technical assistance.

"We can do a (free) assessment right now," Stanley said.

"That's the charge we like to hear," Theurer said.

Stanley explained PhoeNX is a technology solutions company serving clients throughout the Midwest and offers certified technicians to manage networks, computers, and other devices.

Auditor Freda Corwin said presently a computer technician is available through software provider, Plexis, on an as-needed basis for $90 per hour.

"It's a better solution than what we have," she said about the technical support offered by PhoeNX. Stanley said charges are $85 for an out-of-contract call or $75 if the county would maintain a service contract with his company.

"We will give you an evaluation of what we think you need," Stanley said. "We'll look at all of it and then come back and give a presentation. We want to look at everything within your domain. Everything you have control of."

With that, Corwin, Stanley, and Brian Foreman, information technician, headed off to the auditor's office.

In other business Monday afternoon commissioners formally approved a zoning request from the Jay County Planning Commission, submitted by Palm Beach, Fla., developer Robert C. Malt, from agricultural to commercial, six-acres on county road 800 south in Richland Township. Malt and his developers are planning to create a spa resort/bed and breakfast of the former home of Alwyn Carder.

Commissioners also heard Ralph Frazee, director of Jay County Emergency Management, say that local members of a 13-county district emergency planning advisory council need to be appointed.

Miller told Frazee to make recommendations to the council.

Concerning the commissioners' recent discussion about the costs of implementing a Reverse 911 warning system, he said all schools in Jay County are currently equipped with weather scanners and most have installed antennas to receive weather messages.

Frazee said that in meetings he has attended in the state, the cost for creating the R-911 warning system was $35,000 to $70,000.

"It's not cost effective to do it," he said.[[In-content Ad]]