The ongoing topic of upgrading the Town of Mountain City with new phones, a new town website, and its computers and IT service has been a continual discussion during the last few City Council meetings.
Last month, council members approved obtaining bids, and the proposals from different companies have been received. Council members are expected to vote on which entity will be awarded the bid during November’s City Council meeting.
During a recent workshop to discuss the upgrades, the discussion focused on the value of upgrading to increase cybersecurity.
“Even though Mountain City is a small town, we are much more of a cyber target than people want to think,’ said Interim City Recorder Audra Gerty. “We are a prime target.”
Gerty went on to explain the new system upgrade will include cybersecurity for “all the computers in town and will cover all the departments including maintaining the software, watching the hardware.”
The new phones are expected to be digital, and the phones will be using the current internet services.
The concern regarding the city not having a landline telephone was addressed when Alderman Jason Bryan asked, “If the internet goes out, will we have phones,” mentioning several concerns, including a “natural disaster or major catastrophe.”
A brief discussion with the workshop attendees then proceeded to ensue regarding backup, redundancy, and how the phone system would still be available during such an unforeseen event.
“We will maintain a couple of analog lines,” said Gerty.
While the new phones will be an added benefit for employees, and computers offer more security, the upgraded website is expected to be appreciated by customers as well.
“The current website is pretty rudimentary at best,” said Gerty. “It does not have a real-time payment portal; you have to know the exact amount you owe to make a payment on your account.”
In addition to a payment portal, some of the bids received from website managing entities promise to provide a more user-friendly portal environment, including an employment portal.
While it remains to be seen which company will be selected by the board, one thing is for certain: the Town of Mountain City will soon be upgraded to 21st-century technology.
For more information www.mountaincitytn.org