County Commissioners approve courthouse technology upgrade

The Marshall County Commissioners have approved a major technology upgrade for the county's four courtrooms, with costs not to exceed $415,000, following a presentation this week from county judges detailing serious problems with the current system.

Marshall County Superior Court II Judge Matthew Aldridge and Superior Court III Judge Matthew Sarber appeared before the commissioners on behalf of all four county judges to discuss ongoing issues with the current audio-visual vendor, BSI.

Judge Aldridge outlined the severity of the problems, noting that the Marshall Circuit Court currently has no functioning technology system.

"BSI has been a tremendously difficult partner to deal with," Aldridge told the commissioners. Staff members are spending afternoons and sometimes full days trying to troubleshoot the system due to limited and difficult-to-access tech support.

The system failures have created significant operational disruptions. Judges have been forced to relocate to other courtrooms for periods ranging from a week to a month when their own courtroom technology fails. In some cases, prisoners from the county jail have had to be physically transported to the courthouse when remote hearing systems aren't working—creating additional safety concerns.

The four judges conducted an extensive review process, soliciting proposals from four companies, conducting on-site visits, and holding multiple Zoom meetings. They narrowed the field to two finalists: CTI and Forte.

Judge Aldridge highlighted that the CTI program would enable remote, hybrid, and jail hearings, including the capability to conduct hearings between various county jails and state prisons.

CTI is a member of TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System), a national cooperative purchasing program that helps government agencies streamline procurement through competitively bid contracts.

CTI's proposal totaled $356,830 plus a four-year service agreement at $58,000. Forte's proposal came in at $377,000.

Judge Aldridge informed commissioners that grant money may be available through the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) as a reimbursement grant, although the application period isn't until fall. He recommended the county pay for the upgrade initially, then apply for reimbursement—though he cautioned there's no guarantee the grant would be awarded.

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon suggested Special LIT (Local Income Tax) funds could be used for the purchase.

The commissioners unanimously approved moving forward with the project at a cost not to exceed $415,000.

The four judges will meet with both CTI and Forte to make their final selection before presenting the project to the Marshall County Council for formal funding approval.