Commission approves $6,500 Hightech 100‑hour time block after debate over aging city computers

The Mount Clemens City Commission approved a $6,500 purchase of a 100‑hour time block from the city’s IT contractor, Hightech, after discussion of aging hardware and prior contract decisions.

A motion to approve purchases and payment of invoices — which included the time‑block purchase — passed on a unanimous roll call. The recorded vote in favor was: Dempsey, Hill, Crop, Menor, Bunton and Campbell.

Commissioner Menor questioned why the city was buying hours from Hightech after the commission previously declined a premium upgrade contract. City Manager Brown and city IT staff explained that the city maintains a base support agreement with Hightech that supplies routine weekly hours; when departments need project work (for example, installing PCs or printers or responding to a server failure) the administration purchases time blocks to cover those additional hours rather than terminate or rebid an in‑term contract. The administration said the city had budgeted roughly $38,000 for direct services from Hightech in the fiscal year and had spent about $30,000 to date; the $6,500 purchase was described as a routine top‑up to address project work.

Linda, a city IT staff member, described recent technical work: an earlier server crash required replacement and restoration, and the city upgraded 16 PCs as part of the recovery; those efforts used time‑block hours in addition to normal support hours. She also said the city supplements in‑house preventive maintenance with specialized contractors for tasks such as vibration and infrared analysis.

During the discussion a speaker — not identified by name in the record — said they were 'shocked by the age of the equipment' and noted multiple operating systems in use, including unsupported versions; city staff said prior financial limitations constrained capital replacement but that upgrades are being prioritized as funds allow.

City Manager Brown said the administration proposed adding hours to the existing Hightech contract because the contract does not expire until 2017 and it would be inefficient to terminate and rebid for a short, project‑level need. He added the city evaluates cooperative purchases with Macomb County when those yield cost savings.

The commission’s approval authorizes the time‑block purchase; no amendment to the overall Hightech contract was recorded at the meeting.