Current and completed projects and updates in the Deeds office...

UPDATES:

1) Today we released an important RFP for imaging index books back to 1771. (An important service for our users and important part of implementing a new computer system). The process has included several meetings with Guiford County Information Services, Purchasing, and consultation with our County Attorney.

2) Met with Guilford County Budget office. We are working on a spreadsheet to do long term planning on our budget and automated enhancement fund revenues. (New project for Register of Deeds office).

3) Moved data storage from Snap Servers to the Guilford County SAN (Storage Area Network).
As a result, we have eliminated the problems from the Snaps and have quicker, easier back up of information. The SAN has a high speed back up solution. Many thanks to Bridget Lindsey and crew from IS who devoted several weekends to get the job done! (THIS WAS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE!)

4) Attorney's no longer have to pay postage fees initiated under the former Register of Deeds.

5) Working with GIS (Geographic Information Services) on a Plat Enhancement project to be implemented in the next few weeks.

6) Changed merit based increase procedure for staff (so they are given their raises the month after their evaluations are completed).

7) Hired a part time staff member to help in scanning old books and doing "temp to perm" index checking.

8) Starting an E-Newsletter for the public and users. First Edition should go out at end of January. Already have 100 users signed up!

9) Working on changes to our website (ie., home page, phone #'s for specific areas in our office, etc.)

10) We are changing our automated phone system in the office.

11) We'll be purchasing dividers for our indexing staff so they can have less distortion and ability to focus on their important tasks.

12) Our employees selected the colors for new carpet for our office. It will be several months before we actually get the carpet, but it was a fun process!

13) I've had individual meetings with supervisors in every area of the Register of Deeds office.

14) Attended the General Statutes Committee meeting in Raleigh on Friday, January 7th. The meeting had to do with a bill re: Electronic Recording and a E-Recording council to have some kind of relationship to the Secretary of State's office. No big decisions were made. (I learned about the relationship between rules, standards, and procedures....whatever.

15) Working on changes to the employee vacation policy and creating an overall personal policy handbook instead of a book of memos related to policies.

Whew, man, I actually have to work for a living.... haha