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Computers may soon filter down to the grassroots level of local government - township offices - where work is often administered from homes.
Most of the 14 township trustees in Kosciusko County who are also responsible for assessing property will likely be offered computers soon.
The township assessors - excluding the three largest townships that already have separate assessors - have never been supplied with computers to run operations.
Three of those trustee assessors have taken it upon themselves to purchase computers with township money or their own money.
But the remaining 11 apparently do their work with paper and pencil.
That trend may end after Harrison Township Trustee Jim Moyer approached the Kosciusko County Commissioners about computerizing the offices.
Those offices are apparently the last form of local government to switch over to the computer age, and for most, it will be a welcome addition.
"It would help us tremendously with just keeping up with names and addresses," Moyer said. "Every change that comes from the courthouse is handwritten. Just a simple name change requires four or five different places where I have to change the name by hand."
Computerization would allow more time for assessment, he said.
Ironically, county departments, which continue to upgrade their computer software and hardware, are in the midst of making more changes that will make available their old equipment.
As a result of upgrades in software, said county assessor Sue Ann Mitchell, the computers are no longer fast enough and are causing problems.
Although the computers may not be fast enough to handle information for all 17 townships, they could easily accommodate the needs of an individual township office, Mitchell said.
Mitchell said about 25 computers would become available as a result of the upgrade.
However, not all of the 10 trustee assessors are expected to embrace the offer. About three would likely not want to use the computers because the tasks are so small and rural that they wouldn't see any real benefit, Mitchell said.
The commissioners tentatively approved a transfer of property during the Tuesday meeting.
In other matters, the commissioners approved plans to move the child support office to the lower floor area of the Justice Building, formerly used for storage. Carpet and a sprinkler system will cost about $1,700. No date has been set for the change.
And with a number of office shufflings, the county approved plans to improve signage in the hallways. Maintenance supervisor Don Taylor was given permission to purchase directories that will be placed in front of the three elevator entrances. New signs will be purchased for public entrances of all the offices as well.
The commissioners also approved revisions to the county flood control ordinance, which will help in efforts to reduce local flood insurance premiums.
A federal official is expected to assess efforts in April and could lead to at least a 5 percent reduction. The change is being made through the National Flood Insurance program and Federal Emergency Management Administration.
