Morgan County codes may move online
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 | 
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Deanne Winterton
Standard-Examiner correspondent
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By Deanne Winterton
Standard-Examiner correspondent
MORGAN -- Patrons who find looking up county codes and ordinances cumbersome in Morgan County may get some relief in the future.
While conducting research, Morgan County Attorney Jann Farris often finds other counties' codes online, in a user-friendly searchable format. It's something he wants to duplicate in Morgan County.
"The way we do it in my office, (ordinances) are in several volumes, not arranged by topics," Farris said. "If you don't remember where something is off the top of your head, it could take a lot of time."
Morgan County Planner Sherrie Christensen agreed.
"Looking for ordinances is tedious," she said of the multiple binders in the clerk's office. "Sometimes it can take days."
Several codifying services help government entities maintain their ordinances in electronic form, including Sterling Codifiers, Farris said. Washington County uses Sterling, which is based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Clients report ordinances are cross-referenced, organized and less wordy.
Such businesses provide municipal and county governments with type-setting of their code of law to help make administration more efficient.
In addition, such services can often help counties identify outdated ordinances or conflicting ordinances, Christensen said.
"You will be organized online," Christensen said. "It's not cheap, but it's worth it once it's done."
The effort may carry an initial $10,000 price tag, but the attorney, community development and clerk's office are each willing to contribute a portion of their budget to spearhead the effort as soon as this year. The three departments will determine funding and advertise for bids.
"It would be money very well spent," said Councilman Chad Hawkes, who helps administer the county's Web site. "When I look now, it is sheer confusion. You have to search the whole Internet to find our own thing. The search function is needed."
Already, some of the county's general plan and land use management code are available online.
The move to codify more of the county's official records will save Farris from having a law clerk do it this summer. The council agreed they wanted someone experienced in codifying to handle the project rather than haphazard attempts in several different departments.
"It will save time for my office and help us look more professional," Farris said.
It could also help council members prepare for meetings in a more timely manner, said Chairman Bruce Sanders.
"It will help us prepare for things on short notice," Sanders said.
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