Randy Grubb, chief technologist with Virtual IT, presented a three-year IT strategic plan to the Amherst County Board of Supervisors that recommends upgrades to infrastructure, a new tax-billing platform, improved public-facing website and GIS, a replacement computer-aided dispatch (CAD) for 911, additional IT staff roles, and policies for disaster resilience and cyber-risk management.

Grubb said the plan would require approximately $1,000,000 in capital investment over three years plus increased operating expenses to fund staff and software subscriptions. "This is a 3 year transition plan... approximately 1000000 dollars in capital over the next 3 years," he said during the presentation.

Several supervisors said they supported the recommendations in principle but objected to adopting the plan without time to review written materials. Supervisor Tom Martin said he would not vote to adopt a document he had not had a chance to read and moved to table the item until staff could provide a version suitable for public review that would not compromise security. Other board members echoed the need for an open-summary and suggested an additional closed-session briefing for sensitive details.

Grubb said some elements had been discussed in closed session for security reasons and agreed to provide a redacted or high-level document for public review and to return for further discussion. The motion to table passed.

Next steps: staff and the consultant will prepare an open-version summary of the plan that excludes operational-security details but captures recommendations and estimated costs; the board requested that the summary be circulated for review prior to the next meeting so that budget implications may be considered in the upcoming budget cycle.