Commissioners Approve Replacing Out-of-Date Computers

JUNE 17, 2025 |

Photo – Carbon County Courthouse – Bigfoot99 file photo

Carbon County officials will spend more than $50,000 upgrading old, out-of-date computers.

During the June 3rd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, IT Director Matt Webster reported that in the previous year, the county allocated $100,000 for enhanced security measures on its computer network. Director Webster said less than half of the funds were used for that purpose and requested that the remaining $54,204.40 be used to purchase new computers.

The multi-factor authentication upgrades were paid for with money from the Chokecherry and Sierra Madra Wind Energy Project impact assistance fund.

IT Director Webster said many county employees are using computers that are between five and six years old. “In fact”, Webster said, “a few county-owned computers are over a decade old and will not support the mandatory Windows 11 upgrade in October.”

IT Director Webster said, according to his estimates, 25 to 30% of the county’s computers need to be replaced. Webster said the remaining Chokecherry impact assistance money will cover the cost of 75 new computers, bringing the entire county into Windows 11 compliance.

Webster recommended setting aside money every year to pay for future computer upgrades, something that the IT Director said has not been a high priority for the county.

IT Director Webster suggested replacing computers after three years of service.

Commissioner John Espy expressed his support for the computer purchase, adding that future funding is uncertain and costs are likely to rise.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners gave IT Director Webster authorization to use the remaining $54,204.40 from the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project impact assistance fund to purchase new computers for county employees.