ThisWeek CW 12/10/2015
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/12/07/canal-winchester-in-market-for-parks-department-software.html
Canal Winchester Public Works Director Matt Peoples is hoping to implement a new citywide software system to combine parks and recreation facility rentals, access passes and concession sales.
At Canal Winchester City Council’s Nov. 30 meeting, Peoples asked members to consider purchasing a new system as part of a proposed change in the legislation regarding how facilities are reserved and rented for use by the public and various organizations.
The new system could encompass the community center, Town Hall, the Interurban building, the pool and various athletic fields and park facilities.
“At the end of the pool season, we identified a need for some software there because our vendor is no longer in business and a couple of our (point of sale) systems aren’t working, so we’re interviewing some vendors and that will expand into all of our facilities, including the recreational fields,” he said.
According to Peoples, the current system installed at the pool only works for that facility, and does not directly connect to the city’s financial system, making it difficult to complete accounting functions.
“We’ve interviewed three companies so far,” he said. “It’s hard to find one company that does everything we do.
“We want to have membership management as well as the facility management and then throw in the point of sales system for things like the concession stands.”
Right now, the city’s planning and zoning department is responsible for maintaining reservations for the various athletic fields, something Development Director Lucas Haire said doesn’t make sense.
“We’re responsible for this function but don’t really have a system in place to do this and don’t have staff for it, so it’s getting more and more difficult to manage,” Haire said. “So there needs to be some updates to who’s responsible and the rules for rentals as well.”
Council asked that Peoples continue working with the city staff to determine the best product for Canal Winchester’s needs that can then be presented to council for approval.
Peoples hopes to have a new system in place by this spring.