JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
During its monthly city meeting, Jasper’s Board of Mayor & Aldermen gave the go ahead to utilize a new government-based software system for billing and payrolls.
According to Jasper mayor Jason Turner, over the years the city’s original software system became relatively problematic in functionality, this year alone progressively becoming worse. He explained that Edmunds GovTech is a state contracted program that the city can turn to and utilize as its newest software system for its official website, describing it as a more “bank for your buck” program in terms of price and features. City Recorder Paula Turney noted the new program will allow seamless emailing and the messaging of invoices, in addition to effectively handling work orders and directly sending them to a needed department and its affiliates. Mayor Turner further added that building permits can also be filled out and requested online, negating the need to have everything done by paper.
“You’ll be able to do building permits and your water connections online, and it gives a process to send it to us for approval, letting the customer know when they were approved,” explained Turney.
When asked by Alderman Jennifer Cardin if a fee is charged to customers paying their utility bills through the new software, Paula stated that customers will be charged a fee similar to what is already done. Auto drafting features will also remain.
Edmunds GovTech was founded in 1972 by Robert R. Edmunds, at the time initially naming the company Edmunds & Associates. At first, the company provided contract work and programming to the Department of Defense before shifting its focus to more localized government offices in 1992. Over time, GovTech became a major government based software used by many governmental agencies across the nation, Jasper’s own city government now becoming its latest office to acquire the program.