During its Aug. 20 meeting, the Morgan County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of an all-in-one software package for the planning and code enforcement departments.
The commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of OpenGOV’s software at a cost of $70,150.04, with a FY25 budget amendment of $30,150.04.
Planning and development director Chuck Jarrell said the cloud-based software will connect everything related to a property, including licenses, permits, inspections, violations, zoning actions, and GIS mapping.
“We would know exactly what’s happening on a piece of property,” he said.
Jarrell also noted that the software is available on a web browser and an offline app.
He said the app will allow inspectors to work in the field, whether they have internet service or not. All their inspections will automatically upload to the database when they are back online.
Jarrell said the software would be implemented in about eight months. OpenGOV will transfer all the county’s data and virtually train employees. Once the software goes live, residents will be able to log into the database and see everything for their property in one location. A public terminal will also be housed in the planning department’s office for residents who don’t have internet access.
OpenGOV’s software was praised at the BOC’s meeting for its user-friendly design, good customer service, and ability to cut human error and paper loss.
“We vetted their Georgia customers,” Jarrell said. “They all said they have had a good relationship [with OpenGOV], that it was easy to use. On the public side of this portal, it’s very easy to maneuver.”
“It would never be a question whether someone got a permit or not,” county manager Adam Mestres added.
“It increases efficiency for the citizen and also increases efficiency for the office so that the office can get back to the planning side,” District 2 commissioner Blake McCormack said in his vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business Aug. 20, the BOC:
• Ratified the National EMS ambulance agreement, which includes the operation of the 12-hour ambulance that was added July 1, 2024.
• Approved the Farmland Protection Advisory Board bylaws.
• Approved an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) funding request for Malcom Farms.
On July 16, the BOC approved creating the Farmland Protection Program to award funding for ACEP applicants and help protect Morgan County’s farmland.
The Malcolm Farms applicant aims to apply to the federal program to encumber 100 acres of a 148-acre Bostwick property in a conservation easement. The county will commit $110,000 in FY26 (starting July 1, 2025). The Madison-Morgan Conservancy will also commit $110,000 for a combined $220,000, which is 25 percent of the total easement value of $880,000.
Conservancy leaders said a 25-percent match ranks the applicant higher, making it more likely they will receive the conservation easement.