Lapel considering coverage for town computers

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LAPEL — Lapel Town Council is looking in to a possible monthly payment of $50 per town computer to Daniel Paull to provide ransomware coverage to the town’s computers.

Paull, formerly the town’s IT supervisor and now a web designer for Regal Computer Services, provided a proposal to the group to fight the computer malware at its Feb. 17 meeting.

“(Accounts Payable Clerk) Kourtney Krabbe and I were listening to a webinar on ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)funding,” Deputy-Clerk Paula Lee told the council. “A new use for the ARPA funds is cyber security. This falls under that category. I would like the council to seriously consider this proposal.

“A lot of our computers are networked together. I strongly advise that the council take this into consideration.”

Council president Teresa Retherford told Paull they were going to do a computer inventory and get back with him for their March 17 meeting.

Truck cap

The council approved to add $5,295 to a lease agreement with Crossroad Bank on a new utility truck that was purchased toward the end of 2021.

Vice President Chad Blake said the utilities department wanted a removable cap for the truck rather than a permanent fixture, so the cap could be moved to a different, or new, truck at a later time.

“Instead of being a permanent fixture on the back of the truck, like our current trucks have, this can be moved to a new truck. It’s much more cost-effective and should last us a lot longer,” Blake said. “It’s what (the utility department) determined what works best for them.”

Blake said there is a significant difference in savings with the removable cap cost compared to $10-12,000 for a utility bed that would stay with the truck when it is eventually sold.

“In five to seven years from now it could be unbolted and bolted on to a new truck,” Blake said.

Council liaisons

The board appointed liaisons for town departments.

The lone change from the previous year is Noah Bozell will replace Retherford as liaison for the planning commission.

Blake and Lindsay Washmuth will be the council’s connection with the fire board.

Blake will stay as contact for the police department.

Retherford and Jason Kleinbub will be linked to the utilities department.

Kleinbub will also be with the park board and Washmuth with the town office department.

All appointments were approved 5-0.

Snow removal policy

Retherford said she and Lee were going to work together on developing a town snow removal policy.

“We had people calling asking why we were not cleaning up sidewalks,” Retherford said, describine the time after a recent snowstorm. “Paula and I are going to work together and try to come up (with a policy). We want to see what other towns have and use them as guidelines for us.”

Siren inspection

The town approved $450 for preventative maintenance and inspection of Lapel’s outdoor emergency warning sirens.

Federal Field Services LLC, a company out of Wauseon, Ohio, will do the inspection.

Baldwin added to plan commission

Retherford appointed Andrea Baldwin as a member of the Lapel Planning Commission.

Baldwin is replacing Gary Shuck, who was president of the board until he stepped down in December.

Jeff Keith is now the new president.