Ferdinand making a plan for cyber security

The presenters were Tad Stahl and Taylor Hollenback, who are the outreach arm for cyber security for the executive branch of the state government.

Stahl began the presentation by answering any burning questions from the council.

Council President Sicard asked a question regarding the possibility of migrating the town’s email and website to .in.gov. Stahl explained that .gov has advantages when it comes to cyber security, and it could be an eventuality that all state governments are required to utilize the in.gov domain.

It would be free for the town to obtain that .in.gov domain in preparation to make those changes.

The presenters explained the town could keep their old email addresses for a time period to ease that transition.

Hollenback provided an example of a town website that was cyber attacked while using a .gov domain not purchased through the state but IOT were still able to shut down that website.

When a domain name is purchased through the state, they also would have access to filter through any security issues.

Stahl suggested for the town to have an independent third party complete a risk assessment. This would be a great place to start for the town to be able to make decisions when it comes to addressing cyber security and creating a plan.

The key to this assessment is to evaluate how much data the town has and where their risks are at.

The IOT has a contract with a leading training vendor called KnowBe4 to offer free cyber security training. Hollenback added that if one person from the town would take a week to schedule the years worth of training and phishing email tests, the town would be set for the year.

Stahl highlighted an example of fraud by using business emails to target people who use the automated clearing house for electronic transactions. In Ohio, a town accepted a fake vendor invoice that cost them $200,000.

The town has decided to contact the third party who would conduct the risk assessment. While they are not ready to make the transition, the town will also apply to obtain the in.gov domain name.

Other business

The Heartland Half Marathon and 5K routes proposed by Police Chief Kerri Blessinger have been approved by the town council. The motion was passed for the purchase of the Flock camera system for the police department at the cost of $2,850 for the first year and $2,500 for the second year.

The council passed Ordinance No. 2023-01 authorizing and regulating the operation of recreational and off-highway vehicles on the street and alleyways under the jurisdiction of the Town of Ferdinand. Council member Debbie Johnson made the motion to pass the UTV ordinance at its first reading. Council member Ron Weyer seconded the motion. The motion passed.

The permit stickers for the UTVs must be obtained from the police department.

With the CCMG 2022-02 road paving project there are additional project costs that have come forward. Town Attorney Sharon Bohnenkemper was requesting to incur an additional cost from Brosmer Surveying to prepare legal metes and bounds descriptions for right of way and easement documents. The council approved the request.

The spring cleanup days will be held April 4 for the west side of town, April 5 for the east side of town and April 6, if it is needed.

The water and wastewater department was seeking permission for water tank inspections to be completed per IDEM requirements, which is $4,000 total. The motion was passed for the tank inspections to be completed.

The non-potable pumps were pulled in February, they are 24 years old and in rough shape. Water/Wastewater Superintendent Ben Brinkman will be talking about options and costs to either replace or salvage the pumps.

It was approved for the department employees to attend a rural water conference in French Lick. The request was approved for March 15 and March 16, with transportation and meal coverage if it is necessary.

The council passed Ordinance No. 2023-02, an ordinance amending the salary ordinance for the employees of the town of Ferdinand. This ordinance approves the hire of Austin Ryan as the new water wastewater laborer at $21.25 an hour and upon CDL passage an additional .50 per hour increase.

Town Manager Chris James was asking for official permission to purchase a town manager vehicle to replace the previous vehicle that was in an not at fault accident in October 2022. The vehicle in question is a $17,916 2018 Ford Taurus.

Council member Weyer made the motion for the purchase of the new vehicle. Council member Johnson seconded the motion. The motion passed.