How about access to financial records such as the county's check-writing activities? Carroll County reveals this info. Why not us?
To improve public access to government documents, Columbia County officials recently purchased computer software that will make many county records available online.
Called DocDepot, the program will allow the public to bypass such formalities as Freedom of Information Act requests and simply log on to the county's Web site -- www.columbia countyga.gov.
"The goal is to have about four different areas (for the public) to search," said Erin Hall, an executive assistant with the Board of Commissioners office. "One is agendas and minutes, along with all the background documentation. We also want to have one for all resolutions that are passed, another for all ordinances that are passed and another for all agreements that are entered into."
The program, which cost about $9,500, would omit such documents as pending land sales, ongoing litigation and personnel matters, which the county is legally allowed to conceal until resolved. Ms. Hall said counties and municipalities using DocDepot include Fulton and DeKalb counties; Tampa, Fla.; and City of Hollywood, Fla.
The program, produced by ISPA Inc., has the added advantage of streamlining the workflow in the commission office, Ms. Hall said.
Currently, officials must rely on institutional knowledge, notebooks and antiquated databases to seek background documents, she said.
"Our research time trying to find something is just phenomenal," Ms. Hall said. "If we're trying to find something for commissioners in relation to water, if we search using the word water then we're going to get every document with the word water in it. This will give us a full text search and make those documents so much easier to find."
ISPA Inc. is tailoring the software to meet the county's needs.
A test of the program should begin at the end of June and it should be implemented later this year, but county officials could not provide a specific time frame.
Once it comes online, the public will be granted Web access to 2007 and 2008 documents in addition to "historical information" dated prior to 2007.
"It's not just going to be from the time we get it," Ms. Hall said. "We're going to work to put old documents on there as well."
Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.
ONLINE DOCUMENTS
Documents available on the county's Web site include:
- Meeting minutes and videos
- Planning Commission agendas and background documentation
- Codes and ordinances
- Parcels, the owners and value
- Community events calendars
Comments
How about access to financial records such as the county's check-writing activities? Carroll County reveals this info. Why not us?
Who wants to bet Richmond County isn't even considering this type of program. That much sunshine could destroy all government business in the county(as it operates today).
PT: I agree. A/RC does not even keep what they currently have up-to-date, e.g. The rezoning meeting agenda for March 2008 is still up, while the April and May agendas have been missed.
A/RC does a good job of posting their documents online, if you know where to look. On the Minutes and Agendas page there is a link at the bottom that provides documents the Commission has approved.
For everybody's information, Augusta-Richmond County has had their agendas, minutes, etc. up since the end of 2005. In fact, I've searched their commission records for data from back in the 1990's. The Chronicle will always say something great about Columbia County but they won't give the city a break on anything. Where's the Love for the hometown?
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
