While a city of less than 800 people may not seem like an obvious target for a cybersecurity strike, with these types of attacks hitting entities with more frequency, League of Minnesota Cities’ Chief Information Officer, Technology Services, Melissa Reeder, urges small cities to put protective measures in place. Spurred by league warnings, the Rushford Village Council unanimously approved a two-year cybersecurity contract at the June 3 meeting.
The contract with CrowdStrike, an American company out of Austin, Tex., is an astounding $18 per year for up to $1 million in response efforts in the event of a security breach. The cost will increase to $22 annually in 2025. The company is currently working through grant funding and it’s anticipated to be done by 2027. After that, they’re estimating the cost will be $46 a year, but believe it will be less than that.
City Treasurer Judy Graham and City Clerk Mary Miner held a joint phone call with the company last month and detailed the services to the council. While the contract will not directly protect the city’s other software, such as its billing program, since they will be overseeing digital information coming in and out of the village office, it’ll provide some indirect protection. The service offers 24/7 monitoring and will investigate instances of suspicion. The company suggested the city maintain its current contact with InspireTech for ongoing technology equipment issues.
“They also are proactive, so if another city’s having issues, they’ll let us know,” said Miner.
“Cybersecurity is getting more and more important. It’s the number one thing that seems to be out there,” said Councilor Travis Link. “For that price, you can’t go wrong.”
“I would agree 100%,” added Mayor Dennis Overland.
Miner also discussed with the council a Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation (MERC) tax court refund. As detailed by Miner at the August 2021 meeting, when a similar instance happened, the county auditor’s office informed the village it received tax payments from pipeline property owned by MERC.
“The Minnesota Department of Revenue values MERC’s property and Fillmore County calculates their taxes based on that value,” said the letter. “MERC has taken the Minnesota Department of Revenue to court over the valuations and has been successful in their lawsuit,” she said at the time. A fair amount was deducted from the village’s property taxes. “It’s considered personal property since they don’t show up on GIS mapping. It’s going to be an ongoing thing and more companies are starting to do this. Basically, this is what we have to do and there’s nothing we can do.”
Those affected were required to make payback to MERC for taxes payable. The village’s required payment this time is $1,805. The then-council expressed frustration why the problem persists and was similarly frustrated this time.
“Is the Department of Revenue ever going to figure out not to keep taking that?” asked Overland.
“Of course not,” quipped Councilor Bob Hart.
When discussed in 2021, it was believed that it would come to an end at some point, but that’s no longer the case. “A while back, it was said probably not. It’s probably going to be ongoing. They didn’t seem like they had an end. It’s gonna happen,” added Miner.
In other news, the village is taking no immediate action on the hiring of a seasonal or part-time Public Works maintenance worker to replace Jeff Michel, who resigned last month. The Personnel Committee (Hart and Councilor Rick Ruberg) met with Public Works Supervisor Trenten Chiglo to discuss work needs.
“Honestly, I don’t know what would be the best option as far as this year goes,” said Chiglo. He suggested the village may want to wait until next spring to hire an additional department member. “By the time they’re hired here and actually start to work and then get trained in, it probably won’t be to the middle of July or August. All that stuff just takes so much time. At that point, we’re closing out the summer and getting into fall.”
Both Overland and Link suggested this may allow Chiglo to review where help is needed prior to the hiring process. Ruberg expressed concerns over work that will require two people and suggested the village may want to hire someone looking for just a day or two per week. Chiglo echoed the thought noting a summer helper may be needed.
“Now is the time to have that option and test it out,” added Link. “If you start feeling that you’re getting behind, let us know. Make sure that doesn’t happen.”
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