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SC Judicial Department to provide free computer upgrade to Edgefield County court system

web posted April 18, 2007
EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Court system will officially be a Pilot Project for the new Statewide Court Case Management System by the SC Judicial Department. Under the program the Judicial Department will provide the desktops, laptops, printers, software, training, hosting, and customer support. For the county to provide the required upgrades would cost between eighty to one hundred thousand dollars.

Director Joan Assey and Applications Manager Scott Hayes with the Sc Judicial Department met with the Edgefield County Council at a Special Called meeting Tuesday evening to explain the program. Also in attendance was Edgefield County Clerk of Court Shirley Newby and Magistrate Judges Davis Parkman and Brenda Carpenter.

The implementation of the computer upgrades for all counties in the state is to be in place by the year 2010 Director Assey said. She stated she was here in 2001 with SC Supreme Court Justice Toal when the county received the upgrades to high speed internet connectivity. Due to many rural counties in South Carolina Edgefield County has been chosen to be the first with accesses to hosting capabilities provided by the SCJD.

The SCDJ will also provide all the training for personnel on the new computers and software at no cost to the county. The new computer system would allow for live-time connections to all other court systems and the Department of Motor Vehicles. It would also allow for the courts to accept credit card payments at the office or by internet for fines or bond payment Scott Hayes said.

The Court System in Edgefield County consists of the Magistrate, Circuit, and Family Court and the Clerk of Courts Office.

Councilman Kitchens asked if there were any additional personnel that would be required by the county in order to upgrade the court system’s computers. Mr. Hayes replied no, that all the present personnel would suffice. Councilman Kitchens then asked if the county could do away with any positions. It was determined all present employees were needed.

Councilman Norman Dorn questioned if the council should be voting on the matter with two members absent (Chairman Kneece and Councilman Hudson). Vice-chairman Bright said all it took was three members to take a vote. While Mr. Dorn argued Chairman Kneece arrived and took his place at the meeting. Chairman Kneece apologized for being late but stated he reviewed the information prior to the meeting. Vice-chairman Bright called for a vote and the county approved the Pilot Program on a 4-0 vote.

The upgrades will begin after an assessment is done by the Judicial Department and should be completed by the end of the summer Mr. Hayes said. The county will have to pay for services starting in 2009 at a cost of $6,000 for IT support (currently costing the county over $9,000 a year) and $30,000 for operations also offset some by eliminating outside contracted vendors.
 
Clerk of Court Newby and Magistrates Parkman and Carpenter said they were thankful for the support of the county council.

With no other business the meeting was adjourned.

  

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