County renews longtime DevNet maintenance contract and approves employee wellness services and walking program

Stephenson County’s board approved a five-year renewal with DevNet to maintain Grama and EDGE Lisonbee software used by the assessor, county clerk and treasurer, and separately approved two agreements with Empower Health Services for employee wellness screenings and a county walking program.

Administration reported the DevNet renewal is a five-year contract (county has used the software for about 15 years). The 2026 cost was listed at $13,911.92, rising gradually to $14,067.24 in 2030—an increase the presenter described as roughly a 1% change over five years. The board approved the agreement by recorded vote 13-0.

Board members then considered the Empower Health Services agreements: annual employee wellness screenings (a renewal the county has used for several years) and a walking program for county employees, described as a $700 total flat fee for program administration. Committee discussion noted participants would form teams by department, an app would track steps and activity automatically, and incentives would include top individual/team recognition and a random drawing for participants who meet program expectations. "We gave the employee numbers," a department head said, describing plans to let the county board form a team voluntarily.

Why it matters: The DevNet contract underpins recordkeeping and assessment processes for multiple county offices. The wellness agreements are intended to promote employee health and potentially reduce healthcare costs; the walking program is a low-dollar initiative to encourage activity among staff.

Next steps: The DevNet contract will remain in effect under the agreed five-year schedule; the wellness screenings and walking program will be implemented by county administration and participating departments.