Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on the Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Managers (TAGITM) Excellence Award presented to the Williamson County IT Department for the Unify Project.  

The Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Mangers (TAGITM) is an association whose mission is to support and promote government technology professionals by fostering strategic partnerships and providing education, collaboration and leadership opportunities.  They serve as a premier organization for government technology professionals in Texas.  TAGITM provides a forum for generating ideas, sharing problems, and developing solutions.  Its purpose is to encourage cities, counties, school districts and appraisal districts within Texas to realize the full potential of automation benefits.  Each year TAGITM conducts an awards' luncheon during the annual education conference to recognize excellence in outstanding innovation and application of leading edge technologies.  Candidates for the TAGITM Excellence Awards are nominated by TAGITM members.  Up to three winners are chosen by a committee of their peers who judge nominated projects based on their impact on improving internal operations, providing exceptional customer service or enhancing communications.  To be considered, the project must be fully implemented and deliver the services described.  The IT project that received the award was started in 2015 with a federal grant of $386,000.  The cities of Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and Tx-DOT were the original participants in the project with the IT Department. The system implemented allows the dispatch centers to communicate in real time on calls, as well as see all available units on a map and dispatch appropriate units.  Last year, the project expanded and went live with the City of Austin.