AREAS OF CONCERN 2: GETTING RECORDS ON LINE: PART 3: FUNDING

In our previous articles, we looked at what Mrs. Johnson said during the 2008 campaign about getting records on line and her failure to do so.

In this article, we will look at how to get the funding for this operation.
We will again look at the SR article: “Q&A Live: Clerk of Courts candidates answer your questions” which can found in its entirety here.

Oh, I know, it cost too much money to put the records on line. Then why is Erie County the only county this size or larger that does NOT have records on line? In the same SR article, her opponent states, “…of the 32 northern counties of Ohio, only 4 counties did not have "On-Line" records. Erie County was one of them, the other 3 are small counties have a population/tax base of 38,000 or less. Surrounding Erie County, were counties having on-line records, they include Huron, Seneca, Ottawa, Crawford, Hancock etc all smaller than Erie County. The Clerk only need to get the software and tie it in with our present Court Records Management System and we will be up and running.”

Well, that shows the ineptness of her managing skills, her lack of being able to “think through” a problem; her lack of doing her job. She seems to be to involved with micro-managing her office rather than being able to take on “the BIG” responsibilities.”

A SR reader submitted this question: How would each of you go about getting the funding for putting court records on-line?

Johnson’s reply: “I would meet with the Commissioners and take a good look at my budget to see if there is any place money can be transferred (sic). As in the past, I will also meet with other Clerks to find out their strategies for finding the necessary resources.”

Her reply is vague and she can not seem to, “think outside the box.” Trying to get this job done with just using the county budget is like trying to shoot a charging lion with a paintball; it just won’t get the job done.

Mr. Schaeffer’s reply was much more detailed and thought out. “Funding for these programs is limited. Portions of court costs and fees are set aside for the Court and Clerk of Court to use for computerization, software and hardware purchase, and maintenance costs. Other funding resources may be available thru grants. The National Center for State Courts has compiled information on funding resources which may be helpful and will be researched. In addition, the Ohio Revise Code addresses the various fees which can be charged by the court and clerk and may need to be revised to determine if additional costs can be charged to the users of the court system vs the tax based county revenue fund. The biggest source may be my highest priority goal and that is to collect on the $500,000 to $700,00 the incumbent is behind on in collecting delinquent fines and court costs.”

Wow! She could even take what he said and use his ideas to get the job done, but she won’t. She would rather leave things as they are than move forward with it. She has demonstrated many times in the past, if an idea isn’t hers (no matter how good of an idea it is) she won’t use it. She only uses ideas that she herself comes up with. Well ladies and gentlemen, those ideas are very, very few, and very, very far between (pretty much non-existent).

So to summarize what we have said in these past 3 articles in this series:

1) She said that records would be on line by early 2009. It is late-February and she has not taken any action toward that goal, so we can say that is safe to assume it won’t happen by early 2009. Anyone want to take bets on mid 2009?
2) To get this job done, there needs to be funding. As long as Johnson tries to do it through her budget only, she will NEVER be able to afford it. She needs to think outside the box. She could even steal her opponents’ ideas to get the job done; but she won’t. Because she didn’t think of it, they are no good.

Considering how she operates, I’m placing my bets that the records won’t get on line until 2013; when the NEW Clerk of Courts takes office (whoever that may be). I pray to God that I am wrong. Time will tell.

For more information on this, read the SR Viewpoint on January 22, 2009, “Time to Light a Fire Under Court Clerk’s Office” found here. This op-ed pretty much says it all in a nutshell.

To you the voter I ask: Does this look like she is doing the job that she was elected by YOU THE VOTERS AND TAX PAYERS of Erie County to do?

Part 4 in this series will deal with which Ohio Counties have records on line and which do not. You will be AMAZED! ! !.