County adds to technology

To the editor:

Questions have been raised in a recent article in the Southeast Missourian about the status of the information technology department for Cape Girardeau County. Two statements in particular indicated that there was virtually no networking and no file servers. Our accounts payable software is somewhat outdated. However, there is no economical software solution that completely eliminates manual entry. At the present time we have 15 file servers with various shared files and applications, eight of which have been purchased in the last two years, as well as all new network infrastructure (switches, routers etc.). It should be noted that the county commission approved all of these purchases.

We have also researched and purchased a GIS system (digital mapping) and imaging system for the county.

While it is true the transition from a "data processing" department to an "information technology" department is not complete, it's clear that the change is not in name only. The significant steps that have been taken as well as the progress made to update our financial system should not be ignored.

ROBERT COX

Director of Information Technology

Cape Girardeau County

Jackson