City sticks with IMESD

By Terry Murry on Thursday, July 7th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The city of Pendleton has renewed its contract for internet technology services with the InterMountain Education Service District. City Manager Robb Corbett says the cost has gone up, probably due to security issues.

“The current contract was in the neighborhood of $120,000,” he said. “This one initially was just under $200,000. We actually negotiated it down to $179,000.”

Corbett said the city is working to get more information about the service. Public Works Director Bob Patterson is leading that effort.

“We’re a longtime customer of ESD, and they’ve provided us with good service,” he said. “We want to continue to work with them as long as it makes fiscal sense.”

Citing raised rates, the city of Hermiston decided to let its IT contract with IMESD expire and begin its own internet technology department. Since then, three other government bodies have contracted with Hermiston for IT services including Morrow County.