By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Florence City Council on Monday decided to invest $8,175 in gWorks SimpleCity software for all of its city employees.

“I don’t have that much experience with it, but what I’m gathering from other cities and other clerks is that this is the way to go,” interim city clerk Heather Thiel said.

“It’s all-encompassing and really friendly.”

The investment will allow Florence city employees to use only one software system.

City employees use multiple programs that aren’t compatible, including some SimpleCity ones, and others from Intuit QuickBooks. Working across multiple platforms is a hassle, Thiel said.

Council members left the option open to add more modules later since some options might be worth the extra money.

Using the available program for cemetery management would make it easier to keep track of in the future, councilman Trayce Warner said.

“That would require a lot of input at the beginning, but it might be worth it because it would sure be easier to pull up on a computer what’s available than to have to dig through the maps.”

The council decided to have CG Computer Solutions visit and check if the office’s old computers need replacing.

Fire chief Mark Slater unveiled his new uniform for official fire department events, and said the other members received dress pants and polo shirts so they could match.

“If we go somewhere, we go as a department,” he said. “We don’t go as a bunch of hillbilly rednecks from wherever.”

The council also shot down rumors that employees were leaving when the new council and mayor were to take their positions.

“I’d like to encourage us all to move on as best we can,” councilman Trayce Warner said. “I have no intention of taking my toys and running away. I’m going to be here pretty much every council meeting, just on the other side of the table.”

Dispelling gossip is unfortunately necessary after any election, mayor Bob Gayle said.

“Good grief, I don’t know where all this stuff comes from,” he said. “It’s part of the game.”