Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995                   TAG: 9511170043
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITR
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                 LENGTH: Medium

MONTGOMERY LOOKS AT UPGRADE IN COMPUTERS

The nine-member Information/Date Committee said the board needs to address "critical needs" including replacing antiquated computer hardware and upgrading the E-911, financial and tax assessment software.

The board took no action on the request, which also included a recommendation that the county set aside $15,000 from already budgeted funds to hire a "technology adviser" to help make sure future computer systems are selected with input from all county government users. Formal proposals could come before the supervisors as soon as Monday.

The recommendations come just after the county experienced a complete turnover in its data processing department, which has gone through three directors in less than a year.

One of the primary goals will be accommodating different departments that use much of the same information in different ways. One example is linking the county's E-911 emergency dispatching system with more up-to-date address and street information stored in the county Planning Department's map data bases.

"Our information is really a couple of years behind right now. We're treading in dangerous water," said Sheriff's Office Capt. O.P. Ramsey. "We're talking about lives, we're talking about property being destroyed either because a deputy can't get there ... or rescue or [a] fire department can't get there."

Another example is integrating the planning-map data with the commissioner of revenue's personal property and real estate software. That software, in turn, would be integrated with improved tax-collection and financial management systems.

Today some financial functions are still done by hand in Montgomery County, which has an annual budget of approximately $70 million. The treasurer's office, for instance, still keeps a revenue ledger on paper, Treasurer Ellis Meredith said.

The computer committee included county Finance Director Carol Edmonds, and representatives from the clerk of court, treasurer's, commissioner's, planning, data processing and sheriff's offices.

In other business Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors rejected a landowner's request for a permit to open a recreational-vehicle park on the New River near McCoy.

With almost no comment, the board voted to follow the county Planning Commission's recommendation and reject Gloria Scott's request for a special-use permit for her 3.5 acres at 2875 Big Falls Road, just downstream from the popular McCoy Falls area.

Scott applied to operate an RV campground, but in a public hearing last month said she only wanted to be allowed to park cars on her land for now. Her neighbors were outspoken in their opposition.

Another land-use request in Prices Fork that was to have come up Wednesday has been withdrawn. In an Oct. 25 letter, Larry Smith withdrew his request to rezone land at 4351 Prices Fork Road from agricultural to general business status. The letter arrived at the county Planning Department on Oct. 30, a week after a public hearing where more than 15 people stood up to show their opposition.