Asotin County assessor and treasurer getting upgrades

ASOTIN — Two Asotin County departments are getting new software systems next month, and business at the assessor’s and treasurer’s will be limited during the switch.

Assessor Jenny Rynearson and Treasurer Holly Steiner said the upgrades have been in the works for more than two years, and installment and training is slated for Sept. 9-20. During those two weeks, both offices will have limited hours and services.

“We’re replacing the old software to get the assessor’s office in state compliance with our annual evaluations,” Rynearson told the Asotin County commissioners Monday morning. “Both of our offices will be unable to handle certain processes during the upgrade, and we want to make sure the public knows the old system will be down until we’re fully converted.”

Funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act are covering the cost of the new software, which is in the $1 million range, Rynearson said. The Harris Govern PACS product was chosen after the county reviewed bids.

“This was our opportunity to make much-needed improvements,” Steiner said. “Once it’s done, the public will have online access to so much more than they do now. For example, all of our tax rolls will be online.”

Asotin County is the 17th county in the state to get the new program. Benton and Columbia counties are already using it, and the public will be able to view the complete sales histories of properties, tax information, photographs and links to interactive maps, the assessor said.

During the transition, no cash or credit card payments can be made at the treasurer’s office window, Steiner said. Any online payments will be processed after the system goes live.

Both offices will be open for a couple of hours in the morning during those two weeks, but most daily functions will not be back in action until Sept. 23.

In other county business:

Commissioner Chuck Whitman said U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers visited the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley on Friday with stops at the Veterans Outreach Center in Clarkston and a funeral for World War II pilot Allan Knepper in Lewiston. In addition, incident management commanders briefed the federal lawmaker on area fires, and she toured TriState Health.

While in Clarkston, McMorris Rodgers awarded the Bronze Star to Don Johnson for his service in Vietnam, Whitman said.

“We also gave her a plaque for her service to veterans,” Whitman said. “She’s retiring, but she is still focused on legislation and has done a lot for our veterans while in office.”

The commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with the Asotin County Corrections Officers Guild to keep a hiring incentive in place for new jailers.

According to the agreement, new hires receive a total of $5,000 in incentives after passing background checks, getting hired, completion of the officers academy and a year-long probation period. The money is awarded in three stages.

Whitman said the retention and hiring stipend was made possible under the American Rescue Plan Act. Several hires have been made in anticipation of the new jail opening early next winter.

Details of the agreement can be viewed on the county’s website under the human resources documents tab.

Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com.