Tech updates help county improve communication

James Trott, who joined Bedford County this year as information technology (IT) manager, says changes in the county's networking and technology will help improve communications between departments and make sure that various departments are using up-to-date and secure technology.

"It's especially critical to keep our information secure," said Trott. A new wide-area network linking the county's administrative offices is scheduled to be set up in February and is made possible by a change in the county's telephone contract to voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) phone service.

Trott is also responsible for maintaining the county's web site, although he said that's a relatively-small portion of his responsibilities. He said the site, bedfordcountytn.org, gets about 65,000 to 70,000 hits a month. The site makes agendas and meeting minutes for county commission meetings available, and Trott said he'd eventually like to add audio or video of commission meetings.

Zoning forms can be downloaded from the web site as well. Trott said there's been discussion of someday adding other services, such as the ability to pay property taxes online, but there are no specific plans. He said such improvements may end up being driven by individual courthouse department heads requesting them.

Most county departments had already computerized various functions long before Trott came aboard, and most were working with Local Government Corporation, a private, non-profit corporation based in Columbia which provides computer services to local government entities. Many are still using Local Government software, said Trott, but it's beneficial to have a local IT person working with computer networks.

"We're trying for better centralization," said Trott. The new centralized telephone and Internet contract with give the county one bill, simplifying record-keeping and bill-paying.

Trott's office is located, along with the county finance director and the county zoning office, in the county-owned Medical Arts Building on Dover Street.