Feb 24, 2025 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Nine Peaks Solutions
Replacing Banker Boxes With Modern Document Management Solutions
Traditional methods of preserving documents—such as storing them in banker boxes in warehouses or offsite storage facilities—are increasingly being replaced by innovative digital document and records management systems. This shift is driven by the growing demand for efficiency, compliance, and ease of access, and it is clear that businesses that adopt digital solutions are reaping significant benefits.
The Problem with Banker Boxes
Many organizations rely on banker boxes to store important documents, such as financial records, commissioner meeting records, contracts, legal files, and employee records. While these boxes can hold large volumes of paperwork, they come with significant downsides:
- Physical Space Requirements: Storing documents in banker boxes takes up a lot of physical space, often in crowded offices, offsite warehouses, or expensive storage units.
- Time-Consuming Retrieval: Searching for a specific document requires manually sifting through boxes, a slow and inefficient process.
- Security Risks: Paper documents are vulnerable to theft, damage, and loss due to fires, floods, or other disasters.
- Compliance Challenges: Many industries require companies to retain documents for a set number of years. Managing compliance with regulatory requirements through physical storage can be cumbersome.
- Environmental Impact: The continued use of paper results in deforestation and higher carbon footprints, especially when physical storage needs grow over time.
Enter Digital Document Management Solutions
In the face of these challenges, businesses are turning to digital solutions that provide more efficient, secure, and cost-effective ways to store and manage historical documents. With the adoption of cloud-based systems, scanning technology, and automated workflows, organizations are transforming how they handle paperwork. Digitizing documents offers several key advantages:
- Space Efficiency: Digital storage eliminates the need for physical space. Businesses can store thousands of documents in a fraction of the space it would take to house banker boxes.
- Easy Accessibility: With digital documents stored in secure cloud environments or enterprise document management systems, authorized users can retrieve files instantly from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Enhanced Security: Digital document storage offers advanced encryption, access control, and backup systems, significantly reducing the risk of data loss or unauthorized access.
- Searchability and Automation: With the right software, companies can index documents, allowing for fast keyword-based searches. Automation features can also flag important deadlines or actions needed based on document content.
- Compliance and Auditing: Document management systems come with audit trails and automatic retention policies, ensuring that documents are stored in compliance with industry regulations and are properly disposed of when no longer needed.
Laserfiche and Nine Peaks Solutions: A Modern Approach to Document Management
Nine Peaks Solutions is at the forefront of helping businesses transition from traditional paper-based storage to efficient, digital solutions. The services and partnership that NPS provides with Laserfiche is designed to help counties eliminate the need for banker boxes and move their records management processes online and more transparent.
Laserfiche / Nine Peaks offers a range of solutions that include:
- Document Scanning and Indexing: They help businesses scan, digitize, and index their paper documents, making it easy to transition from physical to digital archives.
- Cloud-based Storage: Nine Peaks provides secure, cloud-based document storage that ensures easy access, backup, and disaster recovery.
- Automation and Workflow Integration: Their systems integrate with existing organizations’ processes, automating document handling, approvals, and compliance tracking.
- Advanced Security: With top-notch security features, including encryption and role-based access controls, the Laserfiche and Nine Peaks team ensures that sensitive documents are protected at all stages of storage and retrieval. Bottom line… you have to be able to keep what you already have… no matter what threats are coming your way.
By offering these services, Nine Peaks Solutions helps your county reduce overhead costs associated with physical storage, improve document retrieval times, and enhance overall workflow efficiency.
NinePeaksSolutions.com/AOC
Request a demo to learn more about how Nine Peaks Solutions can advance your records management and organization continuity capabilities
Nine Peaks Solutions LLC
5 NW Hawthorne Ave, Suite 100
Bend, OR 97703-2935
(844) 797-3257
(541) 797-7595
Info@NinePeaksSolutions.com
Feb 3, 2025 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has hired Will Fett as member services director.
Fett has a wealth of experience in strategic outreach and program development, and most recently has been leading engagement in conservation programs for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“I am confident that with Will’s experience fundraising, coordinating events, and building strong relationships, he will be a great fit to lead AOC’s Member Services Department,” said AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel.
Will’s first day is Monday, Feb. 3.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Jan 30, 2025 | AOC News
New county commissioners, judges, chairs, and staff from across Oregon came together in January for the launch of a new class of County College. This biennial program, established in 2006 by the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) in partnership with the Oregon State University Extension Service, provides a platform for new members to connect and gain important insights into county government.
The 2025 cohort includes new AOC members from 20 different counties, along with staff from OSU Extension Services, which hosted the first session.
With class sizes averaging between 20 and 30 participants, one of the program’s greatest strengths is the opportunity to network and build relationships with colleagues from across the state. “AOC is proud to continue offering this essential service to our members,” commented AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel. “This program is truly unique, and the connections formed during class will provide members with invaluable support well into the future.”
The program offers sessions led by professionals in core county service areas, including community and economic development, finance, human services, infrastructure and public works, public safety, leadership, and management.
This first session offered valuable information on county government, public meetings law, and the legislative process. Attendees heard presentations from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and Benton County. In addition, OSU Extension Services Interim Director Dr. Kris Elliot and directors from all their programming highlighted their many services.
“Session 1 of AOC County College was an amazing kickoff to building important relationships with other leaders from around our great state and offered a strong foundation of partners and resources available from OSU Extension Services,” commented Wallowa County Commissioner Lisa Collier. “ AOC County College is a safe and well-designed space for learning about my new role. I can’t wait for session 2!”
For more information on County College visit: https://oregoncounties.org/ed-events/#countycollege
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Jan 27, 2025 | AOC Advocacy
The 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly convened on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to begin the 160-day session. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Legislative Affairs Department had a productive first week in the Capitol meeting with legislators, attending hearings, and networking with our colleagues. We are already well on our way to achieving our team’s goal of meeting with all 90 legislators in the first 30 days of session to introduce the AOC team and our 2025 policy priorities.
AOC members are encouraged to engage in AOC’s policy process this session – our advocacy is strongest when it is informed by our counties across the state. If you’re not already receiving steering committee meeting notices and agendas, you can sign up through the 2025 AOC Committee Interest Form. AOC steering committee meetings are a critical forum for our members to learn about and weigh in on legislative concepts impacting county services, budgets, and governance.
The AOC Legislative Committee meets in Salem at the AOC office on the second Monday of every month – “AOC Day” – to consider steering committee recommendations. AOC steering committees meet on a rotating schedule the preceding Friday (virtual only) and Monday (hybrid). The most up-to-date information can be found on the calendar on AOC’s website, and calendar invitations are sent out monthly.
Members can also expect emailed communications from AOC’s Legislative Affairs Department with timely legislative updates, information about action taken by the AOC Legislative Committee, and issue-specific action alerts urging our members to contact legislators or submit testimony on high priority bills.
The AOC Legislative Committee adopted the below 2025 Policy Priorities based on steering committee recommendations in June 2024. These priorities, along with positions and principles recommended throughout the legislative session by AOC steering committees, guide the advocacy work of the AOC Legislative Affairs Department.
AOC 2025 POLICY PRIORITIES
Assessment and Taxation Funding
- Sustain and protect the property tax asset to the benefit of all property owners and taxing districts through adequate, equitable, and stable funding for county assessment and taxation programs.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Justin Low, Governance, Revenue, and Economic Development
Health and Human Services
- Provide counties with the resources to address Oregon’s addiction and homelessness crises by removing administrative burdens and funding county public health and behavioral health services, deflection programs, and local homelessness response coordination for youth and adults.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Jessica Pratt, Health and Human Services
Natural Resources
- Protect and strengthen county authority, funding, and flexibility in managing local natural resource policies.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Branden Pursinger, Natural Resources and Land Use
Community Corrections
- Fully fund a revised community corrections formula that accurately reflects the costs incurred by counties.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Tim Dooley, Public Safety, Broadband, and Solid Waste
Transportation Funding
- Ensure a comprehensive transportation funding package prioritizes investments in operations, maintenance, and safety; incorporates diverse and modern funding mechanisms to ensure the growth and stabilization of the State Highway Fund (SHF); maintains the 30% county share of SHF revenues; and reduces barriers to local revenue sources.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Director Mallorie Roberts, Transportation
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Jan 27, 2025 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has hired Justin Low as a legislative affairs manager, covering issues related to governance, revenue, and economic development.
Low brings considerable experience in legislative affairs to AOC, having previously served as a staffer in the Capitol and as the Associate Director of Policy and Research at the Oregon Justice Resource Center. In these roles, he was responsible for analyzing legislation, conducting fiscal reviews, and effectively communicating policy positions to a wide range of stakeholders.
“Justin’s expertise in policy research, ORS and OAR proficiency, and understanding of the legislative fiscal process will be invaluable assets to our team,” said Gina Nikkel, AOC executive director.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
