Thomas County Commissioners Select New IT Provider
October 6, 2025
The Thomas County Commission met Monday morning at the Historic Thomas County Courthouse, where a major portion of the session centered on the future of the county’s IT and cybersecurity services. After detailed presentations from three firms—Corsica Technologies, Reach Solutions, and Anchor Network Solutions—the board voted 2–0 (with Commissioner Brad Flipse abstaining) to approve a contract with Corsica Technologies for $9,500 per month, the lowest of the three bids.
The decision marked a significant shift, as Anchor, a local provider based in Colby, has managed the county’s IT systems for the past two years. The commissioners acknowledged Anchor’s service record but said the cost savings and technical strength offered by Corsica were too substantial to overlook.
Each firm made its case to the board with varying levels of experience, locality, and price. Corsica Technologies, headquartered in Virginia, brought national reach and high-level expertise but little local presence. Vice President Daniel Goffen traveled more than 750 miles to deliver the presentation in person, highlighting Corsica’s 30 years in business, over 150 employees, and a reputation as one of the top managed service providers in the nation.
Taylor emphasized Corsica’s 24/7 military-trained cybersecurity operations team, guaranteed five-minute response time remotely, and a $250,000 per-incident security guarantee. He committed to hiring a dedicated technician in Colby to ensure rapid onsite response. “We are serious about earning your business,” Taylor said. “If we don’t have a local tech within the first phase of service, you can cancel the contract.”
Reach Solutions, based in McPherson and co-owned by Cheyenne County native Matt Wilson, positioned itself between the national and local options—offering a smaller, Kansas-based team with deep rural experience at $12,235 per month. Wilson noted that 25 of the company’s 28 employees live in Kansas and that all service is handled in-house, not through contractors. The company’s plan included weekly onsite visits by a Colby-based technician, with a guaranteed in-person response time of under two hours for emergencies.
Anchor Network Solutions, meanwhile, stressed continuity, community investment, and the progress achieved since they stepped in to stabilize the county’s IT systems in 2022. Anchor manager Jacee Dobbs reminded commissioners that her team had spent more than 100 hours initially organizing the county’s fragmented digital infrastructure and had since made major strides in cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance.
“Security is invisible when it works—and that’s the way you want it,” Dobbs said. “We’ve built this system together. Changing now will cost not only money but time, retraining, and efficiency.” Anchor’s proposal came in at $12,690 per month.
County department heads voiced overwhelming support for Anchor, citing responsive local service and long-term trust. EMS Director Scott Reese said, “When I call, I expect them to know what to do—just like when someone calls 911. I feel confident making that call today.” Health Department officials echoed the sentiment, praising Anchor’s role in achieving HIPAA compliance and data security.
County Emergency Management director David Becker, who has worked closely with Anchor, recommended continuing the relationship based on reliability and the time invested in building a stable network.
Still, commissioners weighed the financial picture carefully. Thomas County currently budgets $287,902 annually for IT operations. By switching to Corsica, the county will reduce that cost by roughly $36,000 per year.
Commissioner Brad Flipse acknowledged the positive relationship with Anchor but said taxpayers must come first. “We understand the value of local relationships,” he said, “but we also have to look at the overall cost to the county. Corsica’s proposal provides strong security guarantees and saves money.”
Chair Mike Baughn agreed, noting that while many department heads favored Anchor, commissioners are accountable to all taxpayers, not just those within the courthouse system. “Sometimes these decisions are uncomfortable,” Baughn said after the vote. “But we have to be fiscally responsible.”
Corsica is expected to begin onboarding in early January, with company representatives planning to be onsite for two weeks to install cybersecurity software, meet with county staff, and document departmental needs.
Other Business
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. The next regular Thomas County Commission meeting will be held Monday, October 13, at 9 a.m. in the courthouse chambers.