Tazewell County Board votes to upgrade systems in wake of November cyber attack

Last November’s cyberattack on Tazewell County government servers prompted the Tazewell County Board decision to purchase a new server, network hardware and support at Wednesday’s meeting.

The Board voted to authorize an agreement with Heart Technologies for an amount not to exceed $298,535. The purchase will necessitate a budget transfer from the General Fund contingency account to Technology Infrastructure Improvements.

More:Cyberattack knocks out Tazewell County email, phone systems

The Board also voted to purchase equipment for a new dental facility in the Broadway Building in Pekin from Patterson Dental Supply Inc., for $168,077.

“It’s basically storage shelving, sinks and all the stuff that would go into dental rooms, along with some mechanical equipment to go along with the chairs we’re trying to repurpose,” said Board Property Committee chairman Greg Longfellow.”

The Tazewell County Health Department retained much of the dental equipment from its prior operation in North Pekin, including chairs and X-ray equipment. They have been kept in storage and will be re-used at the new facility, provided they have remained in suitable condition.

In other business, the Board approved:

• A $4,000 budget transfer from contingency funds for the Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Office for a copy machine/printer for the Print Shop division.
• Authorization for the Tazewell County Resource Center, doing business as We Care, to apply for federal Public Transportation Financial Assistance and for a state Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement.
• An amended agreement with Carle Health Plus.
•  A resolution in support of Tazewell County Agriculture.