County approves short-term CitizenServe extension as permitting switch stirs complaints

The board discussed and approved a three-month extension of the county's previous permitting contract with CitizenServe to restore access to historical permit records that staff say are needed while the new permitting system is refined.

Tyler Goodman, assistant county manager, told the board staff have received a steady stream of complaints about formatting and accessibility of historical records since the migration to the new system. "This contract will allow us quick, clean, easy access to information, especially historical information that is now complicated with the new software," he said. Goodman said staff have migrated the raw data from the old system but need CitizenServe access to view the records in a usable format and to translate them into the new system accurately.

Supervisors expressed sympathy for affected contractors and residents and pressed staff for ongoing updates and a timeline for a permanent solution. The board approved the interim renewal unanimously, with members asking staff to keep the board informed about restrictions on historic-data access and the plan for a long-term permitting approach.