Thomas said his office started looking into using iPads because of an online warrant system that takes effect statewide Nov. 18, which will give law enforcement officials access to warrants in all 120 counties.
Thomas said his office is going to purchase one scanner for the online warrant program and is looking into purchasing another to take dockets paperless. He said his office makes about 10,000 copies a month for jail and hearing dockets, so if it switched to using iPads for those, time and material costs would be cut.
Thomas estimated that 500 pages were printed for Wednesday’s court meeting.
“I prepare these orders, I sign them, they come over to you all, (Branham) makes 10 copies. Those copies are then packaged up, they’re delivered to the sheriff, the sheriff spends his Friday or Saturday afternoon making sure that they’re delivered to you,” he said. “That’s taking him away, but if we had iPads ... then the thing is, first and second reading of ordinances, you don’t have to worry about keeping yours. We don’t have to copy it twice, because you’ve got it already.”
Branham called the effort cutting edge, and commissioners responded positively. Rogers added that it would be good for the environment, too.
Thomas acknowledged that the effort would require additional money up front, but he said the overall results would be cost-cutting.
“ ... if you have an iPad, you could save $600 a month. That’s $7,200 a year, and that’s a conservative number,” he said. “And you keep those iPads for three or four years. You could save $28,000 for a $4,000 investment. And that also frees up the staff to do something else.”
Contact Katie Perkowski at kperkowski@winchestersun.com or follow her on Twitter, @TheSunKatie.
