Thursday, November 6, 2008 E-mail This Story

City-paid cell phones: Who has them?

by Bob Gough, editor, QuincyNews.org

After spending more than $78,000 on cellular telephone usage during the last fiscal year, the city of Quincy has a deal in place with a new provider.

As QuincyNews.org has previously reported, the City Council approved a new cellular telephone contract with Sprint at its October 20 meeting. The two-year, $116,737 contract covers more than 150 city cell phones and Blackberries as well as service to the laptops in the city's police cars. Technology Committee Chairman/Alderman Steve Duesterhaus (D-2nd Ward) said following the Oct. 20 meeting the new contract was at a better price than the old provider, U.S. Cellular.

The city paid U.S. Cellular $78,301.55 during the 2007-2008 fiscal year, according to the city treasurer's annual report which was released to the public last week.

Following a request via the Freedom of Information Act, the city of Quincy has provided a list of some of the employees who have cellular telephones paid for by the city. The list did not include cell phones for members of the Quincy Police Department. City Attorney Tony Cameron said in an e-mailed letter he would provide that list "under separate cover."

The provided list includes 47 people.

City officials/employees who have cellular telephones provided by the city of Quincy:

Dave Bauer, Alderman

Mike Beebe, Director, Central Services Dept.

Chuck Bevelheimer, P&D Dept. Director

Glen Brassfield, Airport Operations and Maintenance

Ben Bumbry, Alderman

Tony Cameron , Legal Dept.

Ken Cantrell, Director of Administrative Services

Peggy Crim, Treasurer

Tom Darnell, Deputy Chief

Van Davis, Utilities Dept.

Corey Dean, IT Dept.

Jeff Deege, P&D Dept.

Steve Duesterhaus, Alderman

Todd Duesterhaus, Engineering Dept.

Mary Ann Ervin, IT Dept.

Mike Farha, Alderman

Jeff Gallaher, Central Services Dept.

Mike Goehl, Utilities Dept.

Terry Grussenmeyer, P&D Dept.

Joe Henning, Deputy Chief

Ed Holthaus, Engineering Dept.

Dave Hummel, Purchasing Director

Megan Hummelsheim, IT Dept.

Dave Kattleman, Engineering Dept.

David Kent, Director, Utilities Dept.

Bob Klingele, Alderman

Bing Lammers, P&D Dept.

Dana Lugering, Engineering Dept.

Larry Moller, P&D Dept.

Director Jim Murphy, IT Dept.

Pat Murry, Utilities Dept.

Randy Neiswender, Central Services Dept.

John Ohnemus, Transit Director

Doug Olson, Director of Human Resources

Rich Reis, Alderman

Don Scaff, P&D Dept.

Chris Scholz, Legal Dept.

Jeff Schuette, Utilities Dept

Michael Seaver, P&D Dept.

John Spring, Mayor

Andrew Staff, Legal Dept.

Marty Stegeman, Airport Director

Jeff Steinkamp, City Engineer

Jacob Terstriep, IT Dept.

Skip Vahlkamp, Alderman

John Veith, Alderman

Scott Walker, Fire Chief

Showing comments 1 to 10 of 13 | Next | Last

onoucme2
Posts: 2

Let's ask the experts
Reply #13 on : Sun November 09, 2008, 20:28:05

Maybe Mr. Olson would care to make a comment on this policy. When he worked at Huck Store Fixture he was very insistant on who used company cell phones and who it was that they called and why. He even went so far as to have the IT Manager check all phone numbers on the reverse phone number website to eliminate possible employee theft of company supplied minutes. Oh by the way, he was the Personnel Manager there as well.
Well Mr. Olson, what is your say on this matter or have things changed???

City phones should be for city usage only, but I guess it doesn't really matter anymore-"take what you can, give nothing back". Aaaargh!

Last Edit: November 09, 2008, 21:04:12 by bgough

Tonga dude
Posts: 1

Cell phones
Reply #12 on : Fri November 07, 2008, 18:05:43

If the city gets a good deal? Some companies only charge $9.99 per line. Would that mean the city has 780 cell phones? Makes you think. PS How many cells are on doing very important city business (talking) instead of with seat belts on?

Forseti
Posts: 1

No wonder !
Reply #11 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 15:38:47

When my alderman called he was so willing to talk & talk & talk.

GoSalukis
Posts: 1

To onoucme2
Reply #10 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 15:36:55

IT checking on how much time is for personal use. That's hilarious!

I'm sure they'll get on it after the Soccer website and scores are updated. The irony is beautiful!

onoucme2
Posts: 2

Time of reckoning
Reply #9 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 14:49:49

Let's make each individual's bill available so that we can see just how much of their time is for personal use vs. city usage. IT should check each bill every month to make sure that the usage is for city purposes only.

Quincycoinclub
Posts: 1

why is it so high?
Reply #8 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 14:41:26

Well sprint provides service to the cop cars too! Ok internet service to them all of them there has to be 30 cars and trucks so theres 100 a pop there or more gps service so that is a really good deal when you think of it. And you may ask why do you need a cell phone well they also have them in all the cars to ok when you call a suspect you dont want to use your own phone so he has your number now do you? Also people have to have a phone so if you need to get ahold of them you can at any time and cops need them in cars so incase something like idk the radio dont work and there getting shot at! they can get help.

Dave Victor
Posts: 1

what would be the dire emergency
Reply #7 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 14:10:35

that would require being able to contact the majority of the planning and development dept.?

tom
Posts: 1

OK
Reply #6 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 13:25:24

Who is the other 103? Most plan's are only about $40.00 a month with no discount which comes to $72000.00 , What is the other $6000.00 for , and i'm sure there is a discount for that many phones.Must be a lot of talking going on.I wouldn't expect to get an honest answer from anyone in Quincy Though.

cuervo
Posts: 3

IT
Reply #5 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 12:41:16

IT usually needs phones in case there is an outage but couldn't they have one phone and trade off on-call nights/weekends?

traderick2000
Posts: 1

Save some of our $$$
Reply #4 on : Thu November 06, 2008, 11:34:40

I agree, why aldermen? And the lawyers? come on they have their own from their private practice. IT guys? Why are they not in the office, after all, they have to update the soccer website, right? If it is such an issue that they have these, why not give them $20 per month to off set the cost of their own, you know these are getting private use.

Showing comments 1 to 10 of 13 | Next | Last

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Thursday, November 6, 2008 E-mail This Story

City-paid cell phones: Who has them?

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