Intra-county web site formed

In an effort to address Whitman County’s inter-departmental communication gap, the information technology department has set up a new internal network to keep employees up to speed on county business.

Last year the county commissioned Washington State University’s division of government studies and services to study how the county could become a more efficient organization.

The report came back last summer, saying the number one problem in the county’s sytem was employees not understanding the work done in other areas of county government.

Chris Nelson, the county’s information technology director, said she read the study after being hired late last year, and began to think of a solution.

“Immediately it became apparent that while there were other issues of importance, communications was the primary area that needed to be worked on,” said Nelson.

Nelson briefed a panel of elected and appointed officials on a new intranet over a pizza lunch Tuesday. The meeting was listed on the commissioners’ agenda as a “financial roundtable.”

The intranet, labeled “Inside Whitman County,” will include county news briefs, a spot for commissioners to explain policy decisions and updates on county financial information and equipment upgrades.

Access to the intranet would be limited to county employees, though records of what is said on the site would be available to the public on request.

“This is just an initial step in offering a more modern way in getting us to communicate,” Nelson told officials at the meeting.

“It all boils down to communication,” said Commissioner Greg Partch, emphasizing efforts to facilitate better communications between department heads and rank-and-file employees is a goal this year for commissioners.

One such area of miscommunication was the county’s new accounting system designed by Michigan-based New World.

The $400,000 software was originally scheduled to come on line early this spring, but has been delayed. Few in the county, though, knew about the delay.

Treasurer Robert Lothspeich said he heard from an official in Pend O’Reille County that Whitman County’s switch to the new system had been put on hold.

Largent explained that the county had not been put on hold, but the system needed to be re-programmed to conform to state accounting standards.