By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Changes are coming at Canal Winchester’s Steube Community Center as long-time Senior Citizen Coordinator Donna Warren retires at the end of July and center receptionist Linda Tennison takes her place.
As a result of the personnel shift, Canal Winchester City Council approved legislation creating an events and communications coordinator position they hope to fill before Warren leaves next month.
The city previously had a community affairs director, but chose not to fill the position when the former director left in 2011. The duties were dispersed throughout other job categories until the council’s action on June 2.
“It has come to our attention we have a need for an events coordinator,” said Finance Director Amanda Jackson. “They’ll be our media contact.”
According to Jackson, the new coordinator will work out of the community center and be responsible for departmental communications, special event coordination, manage the content of the city’s primary website and social networking sites, serve as the city’s chief spokesperson and perform other duties as assigned.
“This individual will be working with all of us,” said Jackson. “Duties have been spread out among staff and we’d like to get everything under one person’s umbrella.”
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The city is considering an agreement with BS&A Software to install an enterprise software package to assist with day-to-day operations in finance, utility billing and community development.
“BS&A will provide the most economical solution with the personalized customer service we expect,” said Jackson. “We’ll be eliminating duplicate entries and it will allow all employees access. It’s a huge bonus for us. It would allow for online payment and paperless billing.”
Councilman Steve Donahue said the software is long overdue and Public Works Director Matt Peoples added the programming will streamline operations.
“It will be so much better,” said Donahue. “If you want to talk obsolete, look at what we have now.”
The total initial cost of the agreement—which provides budgeting, payroll, work order, utility billing, field inspection, purchase order, installation, and includes travel, unlimited program updates and access support—is $133,970. Annual service fees following the end of the initial agreement are $12,030 and cover program updates and technical support.
“This will be a big undertaking for the city,” said Jackson.
