Archived Story
Commissioners purchase new laptops
by JEFF SCHMERKER - Ravalli Republic
Soon, Ravalli County commissioners will be able to take their work home with them.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved the purchase of five new Dell laptops at the cost of about $2,000 each.

The laptops will replace desk computers commissioners now have in each of their offices.

The county normally replaces personal computers every five years and commissioners are on a rotating computer replacement schedule. That schedule is being accelerated slightly to allow all five commissioners to get new laptops at the same time. Meanwhile, commissioners’ older-but-not-yet-obsolete computers will be rotated into use in areas where replacement was scheduled for this year.

Funds for the purchase come from the commission’s capital improvements budget.

With docking stations, commissioners will be able to tote their laptops to meetings and while traveling.

“This is what I have wanted,” said Commission Chairman Greg Chilcott. “Something portable.”

Also on Tuesday, commissioners worked over a proposed set of rules and guidelines for county employee use of county credit cards.

Currently, said the county’s human resources director, Robert Jenni, there is only an informal set of rules for credit card use.

“We just wanted something to memorialize it,” Jenni said. “We are not doing this because there has been any sort of problem or abuse.”

The rules, which have not yet been formally adopted, will govern credit card use, authorization, reimbursements, auditing and other essentials.

Reach reporter Jeff Schmerker at 363-3300 or at jeff.schmerker@ravallirepublic.com.

Reader's Comments >>

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wondering wrote on Feb 9, 2010 5:33 PM:

" where were the computers purchased from? "

CT wrote on Feb 5, 2010 6:31 AM:

" Chilcott says "this is what I have wanted." Well of course give him what he wants! I'll remember this come election time! "

Vince wrote on Feb 4, 2010 6:10 PM:

" "Someone needs a coupon" has it right. Hope that someone has the forsight to lock the machines down (data wise) so that public information isn't compromised. Sadly, that happens all too often. "

10000 wrote on Feb 4, 2010 4:11 PM:

" John that's 2 G's each. $10,000 and our kids have to beg for money for after school programs. I know who I won't be voting for. "

Chris wrote on Feb 4, 2010 4:07 PM:

" Yeah, right -- like they're actually going to take work home. I could laugh myself silly over this one. "

Whiner wrote on Feb 4, 2010 3:14 PM:

" Having laptops should be a must for the Commissioners. Paying $2000.00 for a laptop is a rip. I payed $599.00 for my Dell laptop at best buy. "

John wrote on Feb 4, 2010 2:30 PM:

" Come on folks, it just too grand! "

Brat wrote on Feb 4, 2010 12:30 PM:

" Hmm... Concerned, if I knew there was anything there besides rabid ranting, I'd respond. Wait, I did respond... did you notice that paradox? Hmm? "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Feb 4, 2010 11:59 AM:

" Brat: Macs are horrible...this is just another "incident" that I continually point out to you people...it's time for this community to wake up and smell the PC!!! "

tax wrote on Feb 4, 2010 11:39 AM:

" 2000.00 IS INSANE FOR A LAPTOP !!!!! "

Brat wrote on Feb 4, 2010 11:29 AM:

" They should have gotten Macs. "

Conor Smith wrote on Feb 4, 2010 9:39 AM:

" Having just opened a new First Call Computer Solutions branch and hired two local people in Hamilton I'm confident we could have gotten the commissioners Dell laptops, that fit their needs and at a better price. Plus kept the business local. We'll be sure to call the county today to get on their vendor list. Wish we'd had done it prior to this but we can help next time. "

darbarian wrote on Feb 4, 2010 9:04 AM:

" $2000 you got to be kidding, do these people understand they are spending our tax money... We have a real chance to let them how we fill at the polls this fall...Time for real change, maybe we should think about cutting back from 5 to 3 commissioners "

HUTCH wrote on Feb 4, 2010 9:02 AM:

" I GOT AN IDEA, LET'S RACK UP THE CREDIT CARD ON NEW COMPUTERS, THEN MAKE RULES FOR THE CREDIT CARDS USE AFTERWARDS. "

PW wrote on Feb 4, 2010 7:34 AM:

" Why would the commissioners want this in the newspaper. As a tax payer this makes me furious!! "

AJ wrote on Feb 4, 2010 7:33 AM:

" Is it just me or does it seem that the county commissioners are spending more money on taking care of themselves than taking care of the county?

This is a ridiculous waste of money and an even better excuse for them to not show up at work. "

Bill wrote on Feb 3, 2010 10:42 PM:

" Why is it the Government, be it Fed, County, City...Always pays twice what the going rate is? Those must be some super computers. I just bought a great one for $700. Getting more and more tired of them wasting my hard earned money. "

Someone needs a coupon wrote on Feb 3, 2010 10:27 PM:

" $2000 per computer???? You can get the latest and greatest laptops for around $1000 now. You can get one that does everything needed for business for less than $500. For $2000, you can get one that will play all the latest games with highest speed and resolution. Did all 5 commissioners need a top end gaming computer? I sure wish I could spend someone elses money on the things I want. When are they going to try to SAVE our county some money??? "