A new server for city of Manawa’s computer system was approved by the Committee of the Whole at its Feb. 6 meeting.
It was reported that the city’s current server malfunctioned twice during the past month. During the weekend, it died completely.
This old server was set up three years ago through a used home computer, according to Police Chief David Walker. He said the plan had been to purchase a new server in 2014.
“We need to replace the hardware now,” Walker said. “It’s time to put in a professional system.”
“We have been using this system since I started,” he explained. “The server is not big enough for all our needs.”
The server system includes all of the city’s computers, laptops and police squad computers.
“We need to put the (purchase) order in as soon as possible,” Walker said. “Right now everything is running off of my computer.”
The Committee of the Whole approved the purchase of a new computer server at a cost of $6,500. This includes $3,800 for the hardware from Heartland and $2,700 for set up and transferring of data.
Loan refinancing
The Committee of the Whole discussed refinancing city notes with the Wisconsin State Trust Fund.
These notes include:
Baylake Bank note due 2015 at 4 percent interest rate, can be refinanced at 2.75 percent with no fees and term to carry out the balloon payment due in 2015.
Loan for $400,000 dam repairs can be refinanced at 2.75 percent interest with no fees; city is paying back $142,540.60 at the refinance.
Loan for $500,000 repairs to Clark Street/Hoffmann Court can be refinanced at 2.75 percent interest with no fees.
“Refinancing is not costing us anything and it’s saving us money in the long run,” said Mayor Deb Nolan.
City Clerk Cheryl Hass noted that the city should not consolidate the loans because they all have different term lengths. She said it is a good time to refinance because interest rates are still low and the city’s mill rate might increase in the near future, which would result in a smaller tax base.
The Committee of the Whole agreed to begin paperwork so the refinancing is ready for approval at the Common Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 18.
New squad
Walker discussed the Manawa Police Department’s (MPD) upcoming purchase of a 2014 squad car. The plan is to purchase a Dodge or a Ford model.
Walker said there will be $34,000 in the MPD vehicle replacement fund by the time the squad is purchased sometime next year. They will save money by using parts off of the black-and-white that is currently in service.
The Little Wolf High School art students will help with the graphics for the new squad.
In other business, the Committee of the Whole approved participating in the new officer selection program offered by Fox Valley Technical College.
They also approved the purchase of three police radios to be put in the three school buildings – Little Wolf Senior/Junior High School, Manawa Elementary, and St. Paul Lutheran. The city will be reimbursed by the school district for the cost of the portable radios.
In case of an emergency, the in-school radios will allow police to “respond and cut down on vital seconds in getting to the school,” according to Walker.
He said it is important to have police radios at the schools because telephone service may get overloaded during an emergency situation.
“Communication is always number one,” Walker said, adding, “hopefully (the radios) will never be used.”