Porter County Information Technologies and Service Department Director Sharon Lippens and Porter County Treasurer Mike Bucko told Porter County Commissioners John Evans, R-North, and Carole Knoblock, D-South, on Tuesday that the county website will soon be able to accept online payments by credit card.

Bucko said the money orders will be accepted through a pay connection with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. The system will be integrated with the county’s Low Associate System Software to perform payments automatically.

The county commissioners recently approved $14,600 contract with Atos Origin systems that will replace the A & E system which charged users after they had viewed more than 30 tax records. The new system will provide unlimited access to tax records and is expected to be in place by April 1. Atos has also been used by Allen County’s IT department.

Bucko said there will be a $1 e-check fee for the online payments, but it does however eliminate a trip to the county administration building for the taxpayer. He said they hope to have the payment feature ready by the time the 2010 property tax bills are issued possibly in May, but is making no guarantees.

County taxpayers will still have the option to pay their bills at the county administration building.

In another action, the commissioners also approved the ITS Department up to $200,000 to complete installation of the new telephone system at county sites that still have yet to receive the upgrades.

In addition to their regular meeting, the commissioners opened a public hearing to solicit comments from the public about ways to improve access of Porter County’s facilities, benefits and services to those with disabilities.

County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger said the federal government is requiring all communities to perform self-evaluations of its services to comply with the standards set by the American Disabilities Act. Those who don’t take part in completing the evaluation process will not be able to receive federal funds which are granted through the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Joanne Snyder, director of Professional Interpreters For the Deaf whose office is located in Merrillville, said that she was pleased that the county courthouse has interpreters for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, but said she would like to address the county jail and see if an interpreter could be available for service there.

Snyder spoke of a recent case where a deaf man was arrested and brought to the county jail but did not have the convenience of an interpreter to communicate what was happening. She said not having an interpreter while being arrested can be a frightening experience for a deaf person. Snyder said she believes the jail has designated an interpreter from Opportunity Enterprises, but not once has the jail confirmed to using the services of the interpreter.

Snyder asked if the public will have the ability to see the self-evaluation forms once they are completed. Rinkenberger said there will be a public meeting where the county will discuss the answers from the evaluation forms that were sent to every county department. The forms and public comments will be taken under advisement for the county to decide how it will provide solutions to make its services more accessible to the disabled.

No other persons besides Snyder gave comment during the hearing. Rinkenberger said she expects to hold a public meeting to review the evaluation forms sometime in April.

Posted 3/3/2010