Marshall County Treasurer Angie Birchmeier came before County Commissioners Monday morning seeking tentative approval of a maintenance contract associated with the purchase of a new check scanner.
She explained that she previously talked with County Attorney Jim Clevenger about the agreement and he provided her with some recommendations. She said those were given to officials at Bank Systems and they’re currently working them into an updated agreement.
For the time being, Birchmeier was seeking tentative approval of the agreement. She indicated that she feels she’s identified the most efficient option.
Birchmeier explained, “Bank Systems, they are going to sell the scanner to me for the same price as the people TCU had wanted me to go through and their maintenance agreement is substantially less than what I’m currently paying.”
She noted that the cost for maintenance with Bank Systems was less than the recommended company as well.
The annual maintenance fee is $100 and the cost of the scanner itself is $575. She added that the County Council as already approved the transfer of funds for this purchase.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer asked if she was under a time crunch and she stated that she has been in this process since June and would like to get it done with sooner rather than later.
Birchmeier said, ideally, she’d like to have it prior to fall tax collection time.
She noted, “I’m scanning one check at a time. Our scanner is 12 years old, I’m just afraid it’s going to be done one day.”
Overmyer added, “Then you can’t scan checks.” She replied, “Exactly.”
In addition to saving time, this new scanner will save money, as Birchmeier said she will no longer need to visit a bank teller any time a check without MICR ink is provided to them.
The commissioners voted unanimously to allow the purchase and approved the maintenance contract, pending the ultimate approval of County Attorney Clevenger.
