Alva Review-Courier -

Two and one-half years ago, the Woods County commissioners agreed to switch accounting software at the Woods County Courthouse from KellPro Management Software to Tyler Technologies. The new software from Tyler has not come close to working right, according to a group of affected courthouse employees present at a meeting Thursday.

A huge problem is that in just over three months, the fiscal year is about to end, and half the bookkeeping is on the Tyler system and half the bookkeeping is on the KellPro system. The two systems are not producing matching accounting numbers, which is bewildering to county bookkeeping employees in the county clerk's office, the county commissioners' sheds and courthouse county commissioners' office.

In a meeting held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, three executive-level employees of Tyler showed up to hear the county's complaints. They were Dane Womble, division president; Amber Ventimiglia, director of product management; and Aaron Kelley, vice president of product development. Womble is from Lubbock, Texas, while Ventrimiglia and Kelley drove in from Denver, Colorado. Those present from Woods County included Assistant DA Brian Mitchell, Commissioner's Secretary Brooke Murphy, County Clerk Shelley Reed, Purchasing Agent Jennifer Schafer, Assistant County Clerk Grant Gibson, Commissioner John Smiley and Commissioner David Hamil. Lynn Martin attended as a reporter from the newspaper.

County Commissioner Randy McMurphy was not present as he was taking care of his wife because of a medical procedure, but he wrote a letter that told how angry he was that Tyler Technologies had not kept their promises, that county employees told him that representatives of the firm were often rude, and frequently failed to return phone calls.

Murphy, the commissioners' courthouse secretary, was invited to speak first. She read aloud McMurphy's letter, which strongly condemned Tyler Technologies.

In part, McMurphy's letter said, "This project has been a major undertaking for us. Never did I dream this would be a three-year ordeal and yet this project remains incomplete. Communication was very poor and I am still confused as to how someone can build something for another and never ask what they wanted. When we made it clear this program was not working as you promised, you all pointed the blame to us, the ones paying the bill. I believe I can speak for everyone at Woods County when I tell you how poorly we have been treated by your staff. The unprofessional way this has been handled really makes me wonder how we can continue on. We have been told by several Tyler Tech representatives that we would no longer be receiving bills for unfinished or incomplete functions and yet we still receive bills and unpleasant notes regarding those unpaid bills. We have been outright lied to!"

Commissioner Hamil said, "I agree with Randy. Our people have had lots of problems with your software and have not been treated well. After two and one-half years of not getting things right, my perception of your company is poor. I wish you could do something to change that perception." He expressed skepticism that after two and one-half years they could get it fixed. He continued, "We are stuck between a rock and hard place, and it makes it look like we haven't done our job."

Commissioner John Smiley was almost furious as he said, "I'm very disappointed with you guys. I don't think we've received what you promised. We are VERY disappointed."

He also pointed out that if the bookkeeping mess produced by the non-performing software exists at the end of the fiscal year, it is going to reflect very badly on the county commissioners who voted to switch accounting software. County Clerk Reed echoed that sentiment: "I'm really nervous what the auditor is going to say. He is going to be very upset."

Both commissioners present emphasized that communication with Tyler has been very poor. Schafer added, "They don't answer all the emails we send."

Hamil said, "I think a rock-solid deadline needs to be set. We also need some concessions in money we have paid. I don't want to say this, but it may be too late."

Tyler's Ventimiglia said, "We would like to set a goal of being up 100 percent by June 20th." Commissioner Smiley erupted after that saying, "I can't wait that long. We've kept KellPro in place and are paying for both systems and basically double pay to employees to maintain both systems."

Reed said, "Just recently after we scheduled this meeting, a few issues have been fixed." Then Murphy said, "Some of the functions that have 'been completed' still have issues. I feel we have not received any respect from your employees, and they have not been honest with us."

The Tyler Tech representatives absorbed all the comments and accepted the complaints with minimal comment without making excuses. The three executives promised to put serious effort into bringing the software up to speed. Commissioner John Smiley seemed reluctant when he said, "I'm willing to give you a chance, but you've got to perform." Commissioner David Hamil concurred, saying, "We need a rock-solid guarantee."

The meeting adjourned after an hour, with the Tyler Technology representatives splitting off to work with various courthouse employees so a fresh list of problems could be gathered.

Assistant DA Mitchell was asked if he had any comments. He said no because no action items were on the agenda.