Um today is January 30th, 2026, and I call the Lake County Technology Committee to order at 8 30 a.m.

In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda.

This meeting is being recorded via Zoom.

Will you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under data, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Can I get a roll call, please?

Yes.

Member Altenberg?

Yeah.

Vice Jack Hasman.

She's on her way.

Chair Clark.

Here.

Member Dan Forth.

Member Frank.

Member Peterson.

Member Roberts.

We have a quorum.

Chairs or Marks, I just say happy new year to everyone.

It's our first meeting this year.

And it's good to see you all here today.

Staying warm.

All right.

And there's no unfinished business.

Our new business is the consent agenda, item 8.1.

Can I get a motion and a second?

Motion by Robert, second by Dan Forth.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

That brings us to item 8.2, which is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with CDWG of Vernon Hills, Illinois, in the total amount of 81,379.50 cents for the Microsoft 365 cloud backup project.

Can I get a motion in a second, please?

Motion by Altonberg, second by Dan Forth.

Good morning, CIO Blandy.

Good morning, Chris Blanding, CIO.

Eric Carlson, CTO.

Happy New Year.

I think I'm running out of time to say happy new year, they say for January.

Last time.

Perfect.

So today, before I'm going to try to give some background on this.

So this is a cloud backup initiative we're putting forward.

And this is related to our Microsoft environment.

So that's email calendar, Teams, OneDrive where people we store files out in the cloud in Microsoft's cloud.

And this is a um an industry trend to fill this gap here on the backup and recovery of that information.

Microsoft clearly uh stores the information, but it is about uh restoring it in uh in case there is a breach or deletion, et cetera, by a user.

We do that on our on-prem systems.

So we have file storage sitting in our data centers here.

Um, and that protects us for things like ransomware or breaches.

If our data were to get uh locked or accessed, we can restore it.

So this is filling the gap where in the cloud, we can now take that and bring it into our current backup environment.

So let's say somebody deletes a file, we can go back months to restore it, or in that security situation.

If we were to be breached, we could restore those files.

Um this is a one-year contract with the option to renew.

So we are not locked in.

That gives us flexibility after a year if we choose to go a different direction or if there's a price increase, et cetera.

So it's one year with options to renew for several years after that, I believe.

Um it's basically an expansion of our current system that I've talked about that backs up our on-prem files.

So it's bringing these files into that environment, which is a robust recovery system.

Um I'll pause for questions if you have any.

So for this, so for what I understand, we do have a backup.

We already have a backup on our premises.

So this so this is kind of like a backup of the backup, is that right?

It's an expansion of our system, yes.

And does it go back a while?

At first I thought it was just like a like a shorter backup because it's like a backup backup.

But is this like a full range backup?

Like so if if something went out and we lost two months of data, it it could restore those two months.

This yeah, it allows us to go back.

I I think it backs up monthly and uh up to a year or something like that.

Oh, like up to a year.

Well, that's good.

Yeah.

Oh, good morning.

And it's um, and it's our enterprise system, right?

It's like our Microsoft like Outlook and things like that.

Absolutely.

You know, as we store more files into one drive or SharePoint and things like that.

That's what we're protecting in the backup system, really in the case we need to restore something.

And if there's a breach or something like that.

That's good.

I always like back up.

And the five years, um, the reason so it's so it's not a five-year contract.

It's just you can renew it.

I guess I don't, I guess I'm still sort of unclear.

What is the difference between like a one-year contract and we would like if it's an option to renew, just that just means we don't go out to like we just don't have to like look around again.

We can both sides can decide, both sides can decide if they want to move ahead, and then there's a new price each year.

We're only agreeing to one year contract with them.

So at the end of the year, we can walk away from it or go a different direction.

Um, but it gives us the option to renew, we're putting it forward.

Um I guess that would it gives us the flexibility.

We wouldn't come back to committee for that.

That's what you're that's what the uh outline is here.

That yep, if we choose to choose it next year, the prices we've got a a cap on there that you're approving today.

Yeah.

Ruth Ann, I don't know, or from a procurement standpoint if you want to clarify anything.

Sure.

So they thank you.

Um procurement, put my purchasing hat back on from a procurement standpoint.

They're using a already existing cooperative purchasing agreement.

It has terms and conditions, just like any other contract.

And this one has uh contract renewals going out five years.

It has a clause that if you continue to use the contract prices may increase up to 10%.

It's not minute mandatory it has to be 10%, but that's their cap on it.

Um, it also has termination clause, so you can walk away after a year.

Um, if you want the five years is important because that's state of Illinois statute that says that we can only enter into software and data telecommunications contracts for a period of five years.

So Chris will tell you technology is always changing.

The flexibility of a cooperative contract allows you to partner with known um vendors such as CDWG, which is a reseller, um, and allows you that opportunity to be nimble and continue to um change and look at different contracts as needed.

And so the most under this contract, then the most they could raise it is 10%, but it doesn't if it's so they can't raise it by 11%.

Correct.

So we kind of are locked, so we're locking in the price for the next four years or five years in a way.

We're locking in the maximum price.

You're agreeing to their term and condition, right?

And if you don't like it, you can go to another contract.

But it's good because they can't say we're gonna do it 15%.

Correct.

So that is good, but it could end up being less than 10%.

Absolutely.

I think companies and Chris can probably speak to this, especially in the technology uh framework um industry don't have that crystal ball right now to know what the next years are gonna be.

So I think that they're probably being very uh conservative with their 10%.

But hopefully it'll be less.

But it will, we know though, it won't be more.

Correct.

So that is good.

The 10% is a budgeting planning.

So that and you're approving that we could renew up to 10% next year if it were if they did have a higher price, you're not authorizing today for me to renew that for the second year.

So if for some reason they did raise their price, this doesn't lock the price in.

Um, you're not approving um, you're only approving up to 10%.

Okay, so it doesn't let the price in at 10%.

It does not lock the price in.

Okay.

So the 10% is this is the part I keep getting confused about the 10%.

So the 10% is just like kind of us.

We're approving the 10%.

You are approving, but the five-year contract doesn't say they can't raise it more than 10%.

Correct.

Okay, so we're just giving them, and I do think it's kind of like if that is true, that we're kind of just saying to the vendor, you could increase the price 10%.

We've already approved it.

Just seems to me a little like, hey, vendor, guess what?

We've already approved you can increase the price by 10%.

So I and if it's not in the contract, it's to me, it's just kind of weird that we would say that to the vendor.

But um, but this just kind of gives us, but it's up to I like so we so the 10% is just us giving approval up to increasing it.

But to me, it just seems like we're telling them that.

I don't know.

Member Roberts.

Up to but then if it it if it does go, I mean the way prices are, I mean, it does cap us at that, right?

I mean, no, what is it has it what was the price last year?

Did it go up more than 10%?

This is our first year with this.

Yeah, but but you are just approving if we if we want to renew the second year, you're only saying you can go up to 10% more.

It's not um we haven't done a deal with the the vendor to say year two is gonna be this price.

You can go up.

If you do a multi-year, sometimes we did do that with with uh a solution last year, I believe, uh, where they were raising their prices because of an acquisition or things like that.

So we actually did a three year and uh locked it in, but you paid up front, but that was gonna save us several hundred thousand dollars over that term because the prices were gonna go up.

So we locked in at a lower price.

We could look at something moving forward on things like this, but this doesn't seem to be a situation like that.

So we want the flexibility and not paying up front for multi-year.

So we're doing one year right now, but it gives you the protection that we you I can't renew it if it's more than 10%.

Basically asking us to give you permission to go up to 10%.

They don't, they may not, you're not asking, you're not telling them you can.

But are we telling them by approving it?

You're exactly right.

You're not putting it in their contracts.

We're giving you that's what I'm thinking, unless they watch this meeting.

Because then we're saying, you know, that we can do that.

One second.

Um I gotcha.

Oh, you're good with yeah.

And then um I'm good.

Okay, good.

Memorable.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And the company doesn't know exactly what parameters we have told Chris, except if they're watching, she's telling me.

But I mean, this is the way I just think it's it's an odd thing.

Cause I understand because I remember the contract we did last year where it was locked in.

And I'm like, okay, if we have a five-year agreement or three agreement, because five years, I don't that's a long time to lock anything in.

You know, we're locking it in for this price.

But to like, I guess like for us to vote that you can increase it 10% each year.

Not just, but like the contract, I just I worry that we're just signaling to the vendor.

We already approved it.

So if they happen to come back at 9.9% increase, it just seems like it just seems that I just worry that because there's not as much around this contract, is that you know, is it I guess I could I don't know.

I I guess I'm just struggling with that part um of why we're like even today saying, okay, it's okay if you go up 10% because we don't even know what the market's gonna be in those years and things like that.

So it just seems odd to me that we would approve it without knowing what was really going on in the future, where it's not a locked-in contract or a cap on the contract.

Yeah, member.

But Chris is gonna negotiate.

He's not gonna go in and say, whatever number you're giving me this fine, up to 10%.

He's gonna try to negotiate the best deal he can for us.

And he knows he's got that window of going up to oh, I understand.

Yeah.

I mean, I understand how this works.

I I just I just think it's a little odd.

That's all.

Um vice chair.

No, I I I get your concerns, and I think um I see where you're coming from for sure.

I think um the notion I the notion that they would be watching this is probably like probably that's not um that strange credulity a little bit, but um I think also, you know, uh when you're working uh in, you know, and you're on the vendor side, I think you know that okay, maybe I can go up 10%, but they know also that if they keep pressing it and it they come back at 9.9%, you know, every year that you're gonna start looking elsewhere, that you're gonna get you're gonna go out for RFP, you're gonna start comparison.

So I think I don't think that they will charge more than more than they have to uh in order to.

And this is, I mean, this is CDW, so it's not like you know, they're a known entity.

So each week.

I mean I'm fine with the under.

I just I mean, I just think it's it's an odd way to structure it.

So, but I'm I understand it.

Yes.

I I think in it, and that I think you and you mentioned so you don't have to bring it back to committee.

So this is saving you from coming to committee and getting our approval again next year.

So yeah, I wouldn't I wouldn't put it that it's saving me from coming to committee.

But that way, and so yeah, no, I know.

It's just a it's uh we have a lot of contracts that renew, and so it's uh if if the number it just gives you the protection that I can't renew it if it's more than 10%.

Clearly, we'll negotiate.

We have a long-standing relationship, we have other options.

This was um uh direction we're choosing to go.

They they also did our first uh our original backup system.

So we procured through them and they're gonna help implement uh this solution.

So it made sense to go with them as well.

Yeah.

And I know we've worked a lot with CDW.

Gee.

All right.

Well, yeah.

All right.

Well, I yeah, again, I think it's an important contract.

I think it's very important.

I'm glad to see.

Thank you for working hard on the backup of the backups.

We got to make sure, especially in today's world, we're ready for anything.

So all right.

Any other questions?

Right.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

And thank you for that display and for the explanation.

I know there was a lot to this contract.

And then I believe, see, I landing you have a brief update for us or an update.

Yeah, uh director's report.

We director's report, yeah.

Uh I wanted to give you a heads up on a few things that are coming throughout the year.

I'm not going to go into super detail, but um so policies we're working on policy development.

We have two policies that are in the process of getting reviewed through the the county policy review process.

Prior to that, we have been working with partners around the county collaboration, make sure these policies will work for all departments and getting all that input.

So we've done a lot of work there over the last month or two for uh these first two policies that you'll see at the next committee meeting.

Then we also plan several more policies throughout the year.

So we're we're working on the next set of them.

So the first one that's coming will be acceptable use is outlining to employees how they should use technology and how they shouldn't use it, things like that.

And the subsequent ones are are more uh security IT security related uh formalizing the way we do things um you have to have a policy we do them in practice and standard operating procedure but you need a policy also that's what you'll see brent brought forward throughout the year.

Good.

I'm glad to hear that yeah and also so with the policies so will it be a kind of um how will that work like will one month kind of go over what they are and then the next month we'll like vote on them or what will be the process there.

The the plan was to bring it forward for approval next uh committee meeting okay and that we've done the work with the departments and they're going through the process so that is our plan to bring it forward next these first two.

Yeah.

Which is acceptable use and then some and then there's a authentic identification on authentication.

So saying how you're you're you should use multifactor and passwords, things like that, just formalizing it in a policy.

Yeah I don't think you these policies are so important I think for and these policies will be for everybody on our network correct like no matter who you are and I think you know it's important for everybody who uses our network to follow them.

And so formalizing this is so and making sure I know we've been collaborative, talking to everybody to buy in um we'll just make our everything more safe and secure here.

So and just more efficient too.

So I'm really I'm glad to see that.

So that'll be next month with those first two.

Yes.

Great.

We also have some operational things uh perhaps uh infrastructure there's some network switches we need to uh which are the backbone of the network really exciting but it's something you have to refresh we had done a large switch replacement several years ago these switches that are part of this thing you'll see coming forward still had life left in them so we didn't replace them at that time uh so they're a bit off cycle but that's what that will be um bringing those forward we're also doing an incident response readiness um tabletop exercise so this will be countywide we're we're gonna partner um with somebody to bring in um and perform that tabletop exercise to kind of assess our readiness for something we have response plans but it's actually getting on a tabletop and seeing what happens if this uh this goes on it's not meant to well it is meant to uncover gaps and get everybody kind of on the same page and again it's uh good to have those practices going on it's excellent to have those practices you always think you're ready and then something it's so practice makes perfect right and hopefully and you know sometimes things do go wrong and that's where you learn so I'm very glad to hear that and that it's timely we had uh there's a um uh county in Illinois that had experienced a situation and uh we talked with them about it and in the Illinois CIO group we talk and uh they really gave a lot of insight into what actually happens if something happens like this and so this plays into that as well.

Good that is really good to hear um some other things uh there's uh uh a solution that we're gonna bring in to help uh troubleshoot quicker um you know typically it's always the network that's the problem but often it's not it's with the provider or something like that so the solution in general we'll talk about it in much more depth when it comes forward but can track something from the beginning.

So if a user would call and say hey this is slow you know it can help identify is it the PC is it our network we can kind of trace where it's going and say yeah it seems like there's a a problem out here in the cloud or at their solution.

Um there's a solution that will eliminate a list, a risk there, which has been lowered on the list, but it should be addressed.

Um we'll be bringing that forward.

There's uh related, um, which is uh criminal justice information services that uh the sheriff's office particularly has to abide by, and we're gonna this will help us help them comply.

So we're gonna bring something forward for that.

And that's really that's really a heads up on what we're bringing forward in the immediate future.

Well, thank you.

The heads up is nice.

It's uh I think it sounds very exciting and very good to see us moving forward all these.

So I look forward to having them um come to committee.

So thank you for that update.

And then I believe we are moving item um, I'm gonna move the item 9.2 up because I believe you were also involved in this, which is our um uh enterprise resource planning system implementation update.

Good morning, Patrice Sutton County Administrator.

I'm gonna kick us off and then um CIO of Landing will go into the details.

Uh the last time we talked to you about our enterprise resource planning system or ERP system was in the fall when we let you know that we were not going to be able to meet our original go live date and that we were pushing that off and doing some reassessments.

Um and so we're back here today to give you an update.

As a reminder, the ERP system is the financial and HR backbone of our entire you know, organization.

It's absolutely critical system.

And in the fall, you know, we had spent a considerable amount of time.

Uh, people had put tremendous effort into it, but we didn't feel like the configuration was really adequate for what we were looking for in our new solution, and we didn't want to take the chance of being only partially there.

So um we've done some really important work during this time.

Um, you know, really refocusing on the guiding tenets for the project.

You know, we we came up with this tagline of being standardized, streamlined, and simplified.

And um we were all committed to those, but we really hadn't delved into exactly what that was looking like, and we found that the methodology that we utilized with our software implementer was really focused on configuration rather than process development.

And so we've really taken a lot of time during this pause to work with our system implementer to kind of reassess like how we went about it and make sure that we're refining how we do that so that this time around, we're really you know, tackling those operational processes up front rather than focusing on the configuration and then kind of seeing if they work during the end-to-end testing.

So I'm really really grateful for the work that Chris has done with the software implementer.

I've been very involved just because obviously whenever you're extending a project like this, um, there is going to be a change order necessary, uh, and it impacts the overall project budget.

So we're in the final stages of finalizing that change order with um the vendor.

We have asked for them to kind of switch out some of the personnel, honestly, because we wanted a different approach, and you know, we've really reflected internally as well.

And um, I commend Chris and his team for the work that they've done to really uh collaborate with departments and get their input here to kind of reframe how we're moving forward.

So uh before I turn it over to him to kind of go into those details, I just want to acknowledge that you know, obviously, when you're extending a project, there's gonna be a cost to it.

Um so, like I said, we're really close to getting that change order with the system implementer done.

Um, unfortunately, there was staff augmentation as well that we only planned through the original go live date and um other expenses that were you know assumed based on a go live date that was in the past.

So we are putting together that revised budget, and um I am going to ask Chris to come to the finance committee and we'll update the finance committee as well.

Um, at this time, we do think that the ARPA budget for this project will be able to absorb these changes, but again, we're putting those final touches on that.

So um, I'm really looking forward, you know.

Um this has been a back and forth process with the system implementer.

Obviously, I acknowledge the fact that we are extending the project, and so their consultants are gonna have to put way more time into this project.

But I also wanted to make sure that we weren't paying for the same services twice or paying for things that we didn't receive that were included in our original statement of work.

And so obviously these are difficult conversations.

And so I appreciate your patience as we took the necessary time to really make sure that we were gonna set ourselves up for success going forward.

But with that, I I'd like I've asked Chris to kind of just share with you the collaborative efforts that he and the team have put forward.

Thank you.

So focusing on collaboration and governance is the key that we're doing that we ask the system implement to work with us on.

So what we're preparing and have been working on during this pause is uh creating a governance framework charter.

So that will provide clarity of how the project's going to run, how we're gonna work together.

So what are the overall goals and outcomes that we're looking to achieve?

Um what are roles and responsibilities?

Let's clarify those, uh, defining simplified streamlined and standardize so that are not just buzzwords, but what does that mean so that everybody understands what we're working towards?

Um additional uh participation so that we can ensure collaboration in these work stream meetings where they actually do the work of configuring things.

So um decision-making approach, how are decisions going to be made and communicated, which is key?

Uh how are how are decisions that can't be made going to be escalated, things like that.

Um then we'll get into the meeting cadence and things like that, guiding principles and definitions, all of that is part of this governance chain uh charter.

We've been working on it.

We've been then uh brought bringing it forward to departments to get their input, and we'll bring it to the to the entire project team to get their input.

But that's gonna outline how we're gonna do things.

Um collaboration and governance, so clarity there.

And then as far as realignment, what have we done so far and what do we need to redo?

So we've put together some use cases uh which are basically meant to highlight their their use cases we put together that says this is a process that goes throughout the county and touches multiple departments.

And let's get together and talk about what pain points are there.

What are the desired outcomes and what might a future state look like?

And that's where the collaboration is is happening throughout the county to get input on that because departments operate differently.

And then all going back to this governance, what are our goals?

But how can we achieve that?

And so these use cases are meant to identify those challenges that we may have or differences.

They're not solutioning them, they're just in in general.

What are the pain points?

What are we trying to solve?

And can we all align on these outcomes?

And then the work streams will then start working on it and how to make it happen.

So these are key to the process.

And we started that uh this week.

We actually had a great first start meeting.

We're at representation throughout the county and um went well.

And there'll be more uh sessions needed.

We're gonna go through all these use cases, and then where we do have uh areas where we don't agree, which is fine.

We'll continue working through them so that we can align on the goals and then get working on it.

The work streams teams.

Um then there'll be redesign sessions.

So again, informed from that.

Are we all aligned what we want to do?

Then we start understanding how much do we have to change that we've already put in place.

Hopefully, not so much, but in some cases there will be, and that's doing things differently.

And that's what we have to do.

So we're ensuring we have time to do that.

Then it'll get towards building it, configuring it, and moving forward.

So next steps are continuing those use case sessions, key to collaboration, understanding department needs.

That's our focus moving forward.

We we have to, this is our project, the entire counties.

Uh, finalize the governance framework charter, share it with everybody so they understand what we're trying to achieve.

Um we've identified, we're asking departments to have different subject matter experts in the work stream meetings so that everybody is represented, everybody has people they want in there.

Again, collaboration is the key there.

Um, then we'll start scheduling things and getting this project machine up and running and it'll be full force again, which is takes a time as people have kind of gone back to their day jobs.

So it's been ramping up, and then we'll head head forward full stream with the project.

So I I really want to just refocus um, you know, what we've really been reiterating with our own team is that each of our participants really need to be working towards that North Star, which is one way of doing business.

And so as we collaborate internally, our focus can't be on how we've always done it, but rather what is the one way that we can all, you know, figure out how to do this so that we're all doing it the same way in a most efficient manner, you know, for so that the whole entire county can benefit.

Because um, you know, we we have ended up with a splintered system where departments do things very individually.

And so I'm really grateful uh the reception has been awesome so far from our partners, our partner departments to really bring a new frame of mind.

Um, you know, kind of we've done some really important work and it's not all for waste.

Um, but we really do need to kind of go into this with a new mind frame that is one way of doing county business.

So you're not coming into the team as your um department's representative.

You're coming in with departmental expertise to help figure out the one way that Lake County should do this in the best way.

And, you know, I'm really grateful that um so far everyone is really embracing that new mindset that I think is really going to lead us to success.

So with that, we'll open it up with any questions.

Well, I do want to first thank you both.

You know, County Minister Sutton, CIO blending.

I mean, the work you've done on this has been I mean, astronomical.

I mean, for years now.

And also for taking the time to make sure this was done right.

I mean, obviously there was a big push last year, you know, getting through it.

And when I guess it was clear it wasn't going to be what we need, we need it, really wanted it to be.

And this is a once in a generation time to replace our software.

I don't see this happening again.

I don't remember, I don't know when the boss system came in, but I feel like it looks like it was like 1990, just from looking at it.

And I'm like, so you got 1990 to that's like 35 years in technology time.

So we want to make sure that this does it.

And it is worth taking the time and the money to make sure that this is something like a usually set that'll be an asset for Lake County forever.

And so, and then so for those of us that you know aren't like IT people as much.

Um, when you say, you know, use cases.

So, would a you know, we talk about use cases all the time.

So it would an example of a use case be like payroll, or I mean, like I'm really asking, like, so you could say, like, you know, everyone does payroll.

And so let's all get together and talk about what your department needs out of payroll and how we can, you know, make it so that this one system will work for everyone.

Like, is that what you mean by a use case?

Is like an example?

Yeah, you you got it down, and that's a good example.

It is it is kind of difficult to understand as we talk about it through the groups and even for ourselves as we uh first we're preparing for it.

But that's a great example.

Departments do things differently, right?

And boss is 20 plus years old for sure, and it's highly customized.

So new solutions are meant to be efficient and better if you do things in a standardized way.

Um, so it's use cases meant to highlight those different ways of doing things, bring people to the table and say, all right, uh, do we agree these are pain points of all of ours?

And some may have different pain points, but can we agree on this is an outcome?

We want, we want, let's say it's AP or we want less approvals, but we still want approvals.

It's working through those things, not how to do it, but can we align um on the goals of it, these outcomes?

We want it to be efficient, we want less approvals.

We want uh to do things in a standardized manner, and then the teams need to work hard on making that happen.

Uh so they have a clear North Star what to point towards, I guess.

And when you're not like pain points, it's like, so what does that work really great for you?

And you know, and but what is the outcome we want and how can we get this on the new workday system?

Because it will, I think it is hard to notice people because it is going to be so different.

You know, and so it's sort of like when you're like your mindset is we've always done it this way, but you could do it this way.

And it's like hard to, you know, I think to get to that point sometimes.

To that point, if you don't mind if I interrupt here, I do want to point out that a lot of our team members are super excited about the opportunity to go about this again because they have so much more knowledge and understanding of how workday works.

You know, when they were trying to configure and figure this out without really understanding what workday was going to really offer to them.

Um, it was much harder for them.

And so they're really looking forward to kind of restarting this process and being able to converse about it again, having a lot more knowledge and understanding of the power of this new system.

Thank you.

As you're talking, I'm thinking that really this is a huge exercise in change management.

So, you know, I just want to congratulate you because it is um takes a lot of time, right?

To talk to people, make sure they're comfortable.

And I'm not gonna try to recall exactly the words that that you both used here, but you know, the the different pain points and coming to the table, not how this was what we always did, but hey, is there a new way?

And um, and change management can be very difficult.

Um, and so I just wanted to say thank you to the two of you and to say thank you to the entire team who are working really hard on this major endeavor because they also have to take the people who are coming in from the different departments, have to take this back to their departments and really talk to people about why this is uh is so needed.

And I just wanted to throw out there it does provide opportunity for um our staff to move from uh department to department and be able to hit the ground running as soon as they go there.

So for um career opportunities, I think it's it's really good.

So just want to say thanks.

Thanks, Chair.

I wanna also thank you for the collaborative approach you've taken.

Um I've heard from I guess a few different people.

Um they feel they're respected and that their opinions are heard and understood.

And I just it takes time to collaborate and gain consensus and work with people.

And but it what happens is it yields a better result for everyone that is more functional for longer.

So um thank you for taking that effort.

It's not everybody does it.

So thanks.

And so it sounds like from the work that was done before last year, a lot of that work.

So I guess in my like head, my non-technology head, it sounds like maybe everyone was focused on like the maybe like the software part or getting the things done.

And then it was hard, there wasn't as much maybe like what does everyone want in that collaboration.

And so that, and so now it's like maybe people do you feel that people kind of now see maybe like what you were saying, like a workday does.

We've like, and so some of that work that was done last year now can come together with the new structure and it'll make it like better now, do you think, or like help it get done on time.

I'm gonna answer the question if that's okay, Chris.

Um, I I really we've been very intentional about not finger pointing.

So I want to be very careful about what I say.

But I will say this that we have asked the software implementer to really focus on the process first.

We really didn't do business process re-engineering.

Um, we really utilized configuration to drive those conversations rather than the other way around.

And so when you're really focused on whether this lever should be here or here, you know, it's hard to even envision what that really means for us.

And so then they kind of got to end to end and they were like, oh, you know, now I get it.

And gosh, if I had known that, I can kind of see why this department wouldn't really want that to be that way.

And so really maybe we should go back and look at whether this lever should be doing this instead of that.

And so um that's, you know, and again, we've figured this out and we're moving forward and we're gonna have a great collaboration with our system implementer, but we've had to kind of revise um the implementation plan to really focus on those outcomes as Chris was just talking about before, so that we're all clear about you know what the teams are supposed to be configuring towards rather than using those configuration decisions or discussions to drive the process the other way.

Yeah.

I think I think as I've mentioned here, my school where I teach also went through a workday um change with our technology.

And I remember when they first did it, there were a couple of things like that, where they're like for teachers, they're like, oh, well, workday can do this for you.

And we're all like, but but that does, but that's not how I look at my class roster, or like, but I need to make a list of my students.

This doesn't give me, you know, the edibility.

And it was kind of like, but so it was kind of like the opposite thing.

Like you're like, well, this is how it works versus what we need.

And then we had to like go back and change things.

And so I'm really glad to hear it sounds like you know, we're gonna try to like make it all together so that it is with the users and not just what it can do, but what we really need it to do.

In a lot of places, we're hopeful that you know, where we ended up is where we need to be, but we're gonna just make sure.

And so hopefully a lot of the configuration that has been done does not need to be revised.

Um, but you know, we're just gonna make sure.

Yeah, it sounds great.

I mean, I think we're gonna it's gonna be a terrific once the new ERP system.

It's gonna serve Lake County wonderfully for generations, hopefully not, but maybe one generation to come.

And really to take the work, I mean, it's the time now to make sure this is right.

So I really appreciate what you're doing.

Do we have any kind of time frame at all, just even general?

The general we we are fine-tuning what that time, because we need we don't understand how much rework we need to do.

Like she said, we hopefully there's a lot that is there, but we need time to do that.

So currently we're targeting um a nine-one go live with payroll hitting the next month.

The the concept is that payroll is best on a quarter.

But we're doing some pros and cons of that and to get extra time.

So um I uh think the date may change, but we're we're doing the work on it.

That's good.

So it's realistic, and it will be done obviously before the deadline.

So you know, that's part of the complexity of putting the budget together too, because we're just trying to figure out, you know, that go live date obviously impacts the budget from a lot of different perspectives.

So that's the work we're finalizing at this time.

And um a lot of dependencies and a lot of moving pieces.

Well, that's only good.

And I have to say, I feel very confident.

I mean, I think everyone probably in Lake County is feeling very confident about the way this process is going forward now.

I know I've also heard from other departments about how much they've appreciated being involved.

And so I really I can't thank you all enough and everyone at Lake County, everyone who's working on this, which I feel like is everybody at Lake County is working on this.

Very wide and broad participation.

Yeah, yep.

So thanks to everyone, yes, here because I know that this will really benefit all like everybody for years and years and years to come.

So I look like I'll be can we need a ribbon cutting for the uh for the ERP system.

Yeah, for the go live date.

We always could use a ribbon.

I don't know, a ribbon, maybe some cookies and um some very excitement.

A big celebration.

So all right, well, thank you, and thank you for the update.

And I think yeah, I've gotten a lot of questions throughout the county about it.

So hopefully this will help you know, people really understand what's going on and just kicking off the next uh the final big push.

So thank you.

We look forward to more updates.

All right.

Okay, and then next we have another update.

Um uh item 9.1 is our broadband update with our with Kay and Kim.

Come on.

I mean, no Betsy and Kay.

I mean, and Kim.

Oh my gosh, sorry.

I did say Kim, I know in my head.

All right.

All right, good morning, Betsy Brandon, assistant to the county administrator.

I'm here with Kim Lunt, uh, digital equity coordinator.

We'll bring our presentation up.

So um our today we're just going to provide an overview of the strategies from our broadband and digital equity action plan.

Um, these are the strategies, and we'll go over each one for you to provide an update.

So um the first strategy is um support the bead process.

So um the goal of this strategy as outlined in the plan is to facilitate the expansion of broadband to unserved and underserved areas.

Uh 42 out of the 56 states and territories have had their final bead project proposals approved by the NTIA at the federal level.

Uh, the Illinois Bede Provisional Awards have not yet received final approval by the NTIA.

Um, and approvals of state plans can be tracked on the NTIA's Bede Progress Dashboard.

So that is available online.

Uh Illinois has not yet received Bede non-deployment funds.

So we are waiting on additional information and guidance from the Illinois Office of Broadband on these items and guidance on how we can best support these efforts at a local level.

Uh the Illinois Office of Broadband has expressed that it will be necessary for local governments to support the streamlining of permitting and um that are required for bead infrastructure implementation once those projects are approved and awarded.

Um in 2026, our team um will support the bead process by remaining aware of updates to the bead funded connect Illinois round four and communicate updates to the appropriate entities at the county and community levels.

Okay, so for strategy two, which is to implement a dig once policy.

The goal of this strategy is to enact policies to streamline broadband infrastructure deployment in 2026.

Our team will draft policy that will increase the coordination of digging projects within Lake County, including projects under the departments listed and notify utilities, ISPs of those policy changes.

Okay, here we go.

Um the very exciting project of the pilot public Wi-Fi projects.

So uh the goal of this strategy is to increase free public internet access in high need areas.

So as of January 20th, 2026, Lake County and the City of Waukegan have approved an IGA to provide free high-speed Wi-Fi to Waukegan's downtown corridor.

The project is Lake County's first municipal public Wi-Fi partnership.

We're also seeking to enter into another IGA with a community to provide additional public Wi-Fi.

And so in 2026, we're going to solidify our public Wi-Fi project implementation timelines, develop materials on how to use the public Wi-Fi networks safely and securely.

We'll launch those networks, and then we'll also provide direct community support on securing or securely connecting to and navigating the networks using our digital navigators.

So for strategy four, um, the goal of this strategy is to increase access to affordable internet and digital devices for Lake County residents.

We're measuring the number of devices distributed to eligible households, and we distributed 1,021 laptops through the end of 2025.

In 2026, we plan to serve ARPA eligible Lake County residents by distributing at least 979 devices to increase the number of households in Lake County with access to a computer at home.

We also are going to host three laptop distribution events with conditions for receiving and requ and required training.

Events are tentatively scheduled for March, June, and October.

And please see the flyer on the right here for details of the first scheduled event in March.

Okay, for strategy five, the digital navigator program.

The goal of this strategy is to improve digital literacy and training opportunities.

Our broadband and digital equity action plan states that one digital navigator can reach more than 100 residents per year.

We have far exceeded this estimate, and we want to recognize the incredible work that our digital navigator coordinator and the team of digital navigators do in the community serving residents every day.

We have hosted learn to earn programs at 14 community sites to make this possible, having hosted upwards of 70 learn to earn programs in the community.

In 2026, we continue to partner with community organizations to host programs which serve Lake County residents in need of digital skills and devices.

And we will also continue to provide one-on-one and group digital literacy sessions to help Lake County residents increase their confidence and ability to use technology in ways that improve their quality of life.

All right.

And then we have strategy five, two, which is to coordinate digital literacy programming.

In March 2025, our team started using NORSTAR in Lake County Learn to Earn courses.

A month later, in April, we opened the NorthStar license application for eligible Lake County organizations to apply for a digital skills license at no cost.

This year we're providing an additional incentive for organizations and residents to use NorthStar by hosting laptop distribution events.

Eligible residents can qualify to receive a laptop at one of these events by enrolling in NORSTAR at a participating site, completing three NORSTAR online learning modules, and passing three NORSTAR assessments.

Excuse me.

We've engaged 850 users on NORSTAR since March of 2025.

And you can see on the left side there, those are the community partner sites that are actively using awarded NORSTAR licenses.

Currently, there's one that is not listed there.

It's the Catholic the Community Center at Catholic Charities.

And then in 2026, we will continue to partner with community organizations interested in using NORSTAR Digital Literacy as a tool to teach digital skills and also continue to promote the use of NORSTAR by these organizations and residents as a way for eligible residents to learn digital skills and earn laptop devices.

We will also continue to use North Star as a curriculum reporting tool, assessment, and independent learning tool within the digital navigator program.

All right.

And now we have strategy six to creating a county-led broadband and digital equity coalition.

The goal of this strategy is to assemble a coalition of local partners and stakeholders to coordinate and support digital inclusion strategies.

We had a total of 143 participants in 2025.

We held 16 meetings since June of 2024, and the average number of attendees at these meetings is 35.

This past Tuesday, we hosted our first digital equity coalition meeting of 2026 virtually on Zoom, and we had 33 attendees, and there were 19 organizations that were represented at that meeting.

Our January meeting agenda covered a teaching tip from one of our digital navigators.

We did an uh interactive conversation on how we're all connected organizationally and how we can help each other.

We did updates on the metrics and North Star metrics and license information, our redesigned DGI homepage, as well as our outreach toolkit.

So in 2026, we will serve Lake County residents by hosting two virtual and four in-person coalition meetings where we are planning to engage in meaningful activities that will continue to facilitate the development of community-based relationships and identify opportunities for community-driven solutions to increase digital equity in the county.

All right.

Okay.

And as I had mentioned, the redesigned uh web page, we have uh this covered in strategy six, and the goal of this is to create a governing structure for the coordination of county broadband and digital equity activities.

This web page was launched in 2023.

Since then, we have developed several pages and tools on the web page.

We're preparing to launch a new tool, a technology resource map that will allow residents to search for services such as where they can use public uh computers, they can find public access to internet and digital skills training.

In 2026, we will update the affordable internet plan options available to Lake County residents, add the uh the coalition presentations and meeting uh I'm sorry, presentations and meeting recordings, as well as updating the digital skills courses available in the community, add information about possible funding opportunities, and update both the news and recognition and technology resource map quarterly.

And our strategy 7-1 to establish a digital equity fund.

The goal of this strategy is to establish a funding mechanism to support long-term project sustainability past our current ARPA funding period, which will end in December of this year.

We did submit a federal and uh state level grant application to secure additional funding for broadband and digital equity related programs.

In 2026, we will continue to explore funding options for program sustainability and explore how partnerships with uh departments like workforce development, health department, um, our local libraries, and other community partners can be maintained in full or in part.

Uh so um next, um, our outreach and marketing is coordinated through our outside marketing firm called JT.

I'd like to introduce Morgan McDonough, the director of digital strategies to discuss the social media metrics from December 2025, and he's here on Zoom.

Hi, everybody.

Um, thank you to the committee and the DGI team for the opportunity to present uh these takeaways today.

Um, before we get started, I just wanted to share some definitions here for folks that might not be aware of kind of social media analytics in terms of Facebook and Instagram reach is the amount of unique people who have viewed your post.

So if the same person sees your post uh twice, that person is only counted once.

Um whereas views is the total of time, total times your content was viewed, including repeats.

Um, and then engagements are things like likes, comments, shares anytime someone takes an action on that post.

Um, and then in terms of next door, we're able to see impressions, which is the number of times your content was displayed on screen.

Um this can also be multiple views by the same same user.

Um, so we work with the Lake County communications team as well as the digital growth initiative to get content out on social media.

Some takeaways here are that we usually post um once or twice, um, sometimes three times a week on Lake County's channels.

So in December, we had uh nine posts that went in feed on um all those platforms.

Um, but we also post stories on Instagram, which help people tap through which uh um either office hours or basic skills courses are happening that week.

Um in December, our most um popular platform was Facebook.

We reached about 106,000 people, um, viewed more than once there at 162,000 um there as well.

Our engagements were also very high that month, um, mostly on Facebook, which was 751, which was uh impressively a 419 increase from November 2025.

We've been seeing a lot of high engagement on those kind of week ahead posts where we let people know what's happening.

One of those posts was shared 126 times, which is really, really awesome.

And then we also shared some uh by the numbers, kind of those successes from 2025 as well that was shared 2018 or 28 times.

This is showing us that there's great engagement on social media.

People are very interested in our content and willing to share it with their neighbors, their networks and their communities.

So it's something that we want to just continue doing.

And if you uh see our posts on social media, please interact and be willing to share these with your neighbors.

Thanks, Morgan.

All right.

So uh talking about our 2026 goals for the outreach marketing campaign.

We are going to be uh creating new palm cards focused on North Star laptop distribution events to get the word out.

Uh educational flyers for safe use of the new public Wi-Fi network works.

We're gonna do some short form videos about our learn to earn courses, North Star Online Learning Successes, and the digital equity coalition meetings.

We will also be creating new signs and flyers for community outreach events, and we'll continue our work on weekly social media posts and news articles.

You can see there's uh flyer on the right there that's um an example of actually this is actually a sign.

Um I apologize, um, that we will be using at outreach events.

Um, so yeah.

So with that, do you have any questions?

Well, this is a great thing in our meeting the in our meeting.

And I really want to thank you, Betsy, Kim, Kay, everyone, Well initiative Myers who's been working on this.

I mean, everybody and Morgan, you too.

Um, it is just it's almost overwhelming looking at all the things we've accomplished.

I mean, this all just started in committee, where we we thought we have an idea of how we need to help our residents and how we can really, and I think it's such a good example of how government really can help make our community better.

We're we're investing in people, we're investing in and this helps people, but it also helps our economy, it helps with education and everything.

And so to take that little glimmer and to see all these accomplishments, it's just whenever I see on social media, and I really do have to give a like a shout out to the social media stuff.

I it just makes me so happy.

You know, seeing people and how their lives have changed, seeing the opportunities we're offering our residents as a teacher, seeing the educational opportunities where people can learn how to use technology safely and then have access to technology.

It's like why I do this job.

It really is.

This is like one of the reasons I know all of us really probably ran for office to begin with.

And so I'm so glad to hear you know, you're reaching people where they are.

Um, so I'm assuming flyers mean like paper.

Is that they're you've got paper too.

Yes.

Yeah.

So uh flyers, we have flyers um that we uh send out to our partners to potentially use.

Then they can print them out and use them at their location.

And then we also use them uh as we go out to events and uh in classes to have the students uh passing the word on to others.

And and thinking all of our partners, right?

And that's the thing like this isn't just us on the all the partners in our coalition and around the county that you know are you know reaching out to people with these classes, hosting the classes, telling people about it, putting up those flyers because we know you know it's not just all on social media and it's just so well thought and well done.

And I just I don't know, maybe we should take like a second just to be like, you know, to thank to thank everyone and and just really I'm so happy about all this.

So I think it's a great way um to end it, yes.

Member Robert.

Thank you.

Um federal funding.

Do we plan on talking about this in NACO?

Because it seems what is it?

46 out of 52 you said are being funded.

I can kind of is it oh 42 out of 56 states.

42.

I had it backwards.

Okay, 40, okay.

56.

56 states, states, states and territories.

Go ahead, checking.

Okay.

And I can only imagine which ones aren't getting the funding.

So for the bead funding, yeah, the bead.

I'm sorry, I mentioned the bead funding.

For bead funding.

Yeah, the bead funding is it's an interesting time right now.

Yeah, there's a lot going on.

But we are for bead funding.

We are for if we if are we planning on to bringing this up at NACO if the if we can, because it seems like we're all putting our federal dollars in and maybe not getting it out.

So trying to get political.

I'm just wanting to do that.

No, I know at my um my committee, uh Nico, the technology committee, we are talking about an interim resolution.

It hasn't been passed yet, but about make ensuring that uh saying that we would like bead funding to continue, and it should not it should be based on um technology things, not other things.

So we are definitely uh supporting bead funding continuing.

So do we know if Illinois is one of the states getting bead funding?

Um, from what I understand, we still are um maybe you could go ahead if you've yeah.

The Kay can jump in if uh she's available, but I believe we have been awarded uh a tentative amount, but our plan for distributing those funds, the state's plan for distributing those funds has not yet been approved by the federal government, and it has to be approved before those projects can start.

And I believe the federal government is suggesting in some of the that there was an executive order that talked about Bede that perhaps states that don't follow AI have AI uh rules or things might not be eligible for funding.

So oh, Kay, I think Kay is going to give us an update.

Hi, everybody.

Apologies, I'm not available in person today.

Uh Betsy's correct in that we have received a provisional award from the NTIA, the state of Illinois has for their BED proposals.

And we entered into a 90-day review period in September of 2025, and we have not yet received approval from NTIA for uh implementing those provisional awards.

So we are past the 90 days and still in a review period.

And when you go on that map that Betsy mentioned earlier in the presentation, you can view all the states uh that have not yet received approval from NTIA.

It's near the bottom of the list, actually.

Um, when you go on that site.

So definitely recommend looking at that.

You can see uh the funds that were received by each state and territory, what provisional award amounts we've applied for, and uh that's where they will first post updates about the provisional awards being approved.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Um has the NTIA offered any kind of explanation for the holdup.

Um, not to my knowledge, but uh the state uh broadband office, the Illinois Office of Broadband has been keeping us up to date and abreast of all updates from uh for that um process for the bead uh connect round connect Illinois round four, sorry, um project.

And so I I assume that as soon as they have information or an update, they will share it with us.

Okay, thank you.

Um I have a few more things.

Okay.

Um I want to thank you so much for all of your efforts.

Um I think anytime we can get as many for the um digital equity coalition meetings.

I found the last one particularly powerful um as people were asked to set goals or consider their goals, even if people didn't bring something forth.

I feel like it made them think about oh, what do we want to do with this?

And I think the number of organizations and people from different organizations we've been able to bring together any time the county can play a role in doing that, it deepens collaboration among nonprofits in this way.

And I think it also encourages conversation on other topics too.

So I I really appreciate your leadership in this.

I've seen you out everywhere.

And it's I and I and I see it, and it's it's really it's well received and um very appreciated.

Um as far as the social media, I would say I would occasionally see something before, and I'm seeing it all the time now.

So I think that's that's a big deal, whether it's LinkedIn or um, you know, Instagram or Facebook, I'm seeing it all the time.

So I really appreciate the effort for that too, because I think with any program for any organization, awareness is a big component.

Um as for the North Star, do we have feedback on what it's accessibility to all people, all cultures, all do we do we have any feedback on that?

Not necessarily feedback, but it is offered in English and Spanish.

So I do know that we're hitting a good amount of residents.

Good.

And then um, well, and I mean, just the success stories.

We we heard from our Spanish speaking friends in one of the coalition meetings was I thought that was quite impressive.

Um, and then we had a number of of people come forward to to speak about it.

And um really this is digital literacy that wouldn't have been available to them otherwise.

And I I I'm glad we're um we're you know, we're bridging that gap.

Um what are the realities of the funding sustainability as we move forward?

What are the real the real problems, the barriers that that you can foresee moving forward?

Is that okay?

Kay, do you want to discuss or take that topic?

Um, yes, sure.

Thank you.

Uh yeah, so one of the strategies, you know, that we covered today was about that sustainability of funding.

And so I appreciate your question.

It's something that we need to have further discussion about.

And I think it would be helpful for any thoughts on the committee to be shared as well.

Um, but we are working to identify other funding opportunities, um, other grants.

And as uh Kim mentioned in there or I'm sorry.

Um as the team mentioned in the presentation that we are exploring those opportunities, not just within our team, but with other departments like workforce and the health department and community partners.

And so there may not be a one-size fits-all solution here uh because we receive such tremendous opportunity through ARPA funding.

But really the goal is to ensure that the work that we have done is not um is not lost, and we're able to continue and in some form moving forward and providing these much needed services in the community.

So uh definitely appreciate your support in considering that.

It is a challenging task, and I think we really need to come together to identify solutions that will uh allow for sustainability of the programs.

I just I think Kay said it well that there's there's not a lot of funding opportunities out there right now.

We continue to look for them.

That was one of the things that we had tasked um Kay and the team on is is look for the best methods of sustaining uh the services that were provided.

That was one thing that the board wanted us to do with our ARPA funding.

Let's not put let's not put programs in place that are just gonna be cut off at the end.

So uh we've we're looking at what options we have with respect to this funding post-December.

There are a lot of synergies with the work that they're doing with these departments we've been working with, like workforce development, like the health department and some of their programs.

So we're having those discussions with them and determining um what we can do going forward.

So, but uh K said it uh just as well.

Well, and I mean I think it should be said that the federal uh the federal government, there used to be a lot of opportunities for funding for digital literacy, digital skilling, and those are not here anymore.

It is different under this administration.

So they're that's why we need to look at other ways.

No, no, I just no, it's okay.

No, it's okay.

Um, have we considered um private foundation funding?

Um, because uh one of the reasons I ask is that um, you know, it I realize, you know, we all realized it, I think, early on, but um digital equity is equity, and it's not that oh, we feel sorry for these people or whatever, it's that we are all held behind.

We're all held back if society is not at a certain level of competency and and adequacy as far as um uh access, um device access and um uh skills.

So I think it's important, and whether you're talking about someone who speaks a different language or a senior, right?

Um, they're just they fall farther and farther behind every day.

And um it it holds us back as a society when not everybody can contribute and it holds everybody's outcomes back.

So um I think you know, framing it in that light, presenting it to a foundation.

Um maybe there's you know a way to leverage some workforce dollars.

Yeah, that I mean it's just it's just an idea.

Like I think it could be a good fit.

Yeah, please let us let them know.

Um, we're we're exploring all opportunities, and um, I know when we hear about current opportunities from private foundations.

Um, you know, we share that with the coalition, um, and maybe our community partners can utilize that funding immediately.

So we, you know, we do when we hear about it, we do share that out with our partners.

Perfect.

Thank you so much.

I really appreciate it.

I could we couldn't have imagined um what this has become when we started out, and it's thanks to you, all of you wonderful people working on it.

Um, Kay, Matt, uh, Kim, Betsy, and all of our digital navigators.

It's really become you have become a force in Lake County to bring everybody up to speed on digital skills and access.

And I so appreciate it.

Yeah, I have to say, whenever I'm around anywhere in the county with just people coming up to me, this is what they talk about.

They really do.

They're like, I've seen this, the classes, what you guys are doing.

It's amazing.

I mean, I'm at the jewel, and this is what people are coming up and talking to me about.

So, which is part of the good, you know, letting people know what's going on.

And they're they're really happy that that's happening here in Lake County and that that's what their government's working for them.

So all right, yeah.

So thank you.

All right, any other questions?

Yeah.

Well, I'd like to say um, I'm excited about the pilot program in Wacheegan.

And that's kicking off yeah, like really soon, right?

Yeah.

Um, and I'd like to thank Matt for going to the meeting in Waukegan, because that was a little bit, it was gonna be held off as I watched.

And um, I'd like to publicly thank um Alder Woman Lynn Florian for uh really standing up and saying, you know, let's let's move forward.

And um, and I'm happy to hear that this is going forward, and I can't wait to see the progress.

Yeah, exciting to our our first uh our first project on this delivering it.

And it is it's gonna be such a benefit and so great for the city of Waikegan.

But yes, thank you to everyone that made that happen, Alderman Florian and Canada Myers, and and the city of Waqegan for all of their help.

So they're a great partner.

I must say the city of Walkegan for all their work.

Exactly.

Yeah, we can use it here, I think.

All right, any other questions?

All right, thank you both, and Kay, thank you guys so much.

Thank you.

All right.

Do we have a county administrators report?

No county administrators report.

And there's no executive session under member marks.

I just did want to mention, um, you know, I am on the technology committee.

Um, I'm on leadership there at NACO.

We're gonna be going to NACO soon.

And as part of what um my committee is going to be doing is doing some interim resolutions regarding technology.

And so one that I'm gonna be presenting, I just wanted to let you know, all know is about uh artificial intelligence.

There's been a recent executive order saying that um states and local governments aren't allowed to have policies about AI.

And um, it's going to just say simply that local governments should have be able to have a say on having AI policies.

Um and there's gonna be some other ones like you had mentioned member Roberts about making sure like bead funding and those things come on.

So we will be um advocating for that in DC.

So we're excited about that.

Is there anyone else with the member remarks?

All right, can tell the group we're getting ready to go.

All right, so I declare this meeting adjourned.

Our next meeting is February 27, 2026.

Stay warm, everyone, and thank you all, and we're gonna be able to do that.