Oronogo signs with new firm to replace troublesome billing software system

The troublesome government software system that’s been causing the Oronogo City Hall staff to work weekends is being replaced.

City Clerk Cyndi Jennings has been keeping the Board of Aldermen updated on the problems, noting that other cities have had similar struggles since the software supplier gWorks has moved accounts to the cloud.

In her report for the Board of Aldermen meeting on Monday, she wrote that she and City Treasurer Sasqua Crawford worked a total of 135 hours of overtime in May as they found accounts not being billed and manually corrected hundreds of bills. “We had to white-out incorrect previous balances and then write in the correct amount of the bill.”

Board members approved an annual contract with Edmunds GovTech Inc. at a cost not to exceed $49,750.

A representative of the New Jersey firm, who happened to be in the area visiting other small cities, appeared at the May 12 meeting at Jennings’ request. The immediate problem, however, is that he said there is a list of cities waiting for their books to be converted to the Edmonds software. So city hall staff will still be stuck trying to solve problems with the existing system.

Also during the meeting, Public Works Superintendent Tony Cantrell reported on his efforts to repair hail damage to city property that occurred in May.

And Police Chief Steve Weaver reported on licenses being issued to roofing firms because nearly all homes in the city have hail damage.

The board approved an ordinance renewing a mutual-aid agreement with Carl Junction for backup policing. He explained that the city has similar agreements with other area cities and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

Allgeier Martin Engineering received a contract not to exceed $75,000 to survey, design and observe construction of a replacement lift station on MM Highway.

A new contract with KPM CPAs and Advisors, the firm that conducts the city’s audits, was approved for $13,400.

Weaver’s request to establish a charge account at Landers Chevrolet Cadillac of Joplin for vehicle repairs was approved.

The meeting was followed by a budget work session. It is likely a special meeting will be held to approve the 2025-26 budget before it takes effect on July 1.