Municipal networks rarely emerge from a single strategy or investment cycle.
Like many communities, the City of McLaughlin accumulated its technology environment organically over time, responding to evolving operational needs, available funding, and the realities of managing essential services with limited internal resources. Over the years, the City's environment became an ad hoc collection of locally sourced and supported devices accumulated through different projects, priorities, and budget cycles.
Yet as more systems became connected, the network’s role expanded. What was once viewed as supporting devices had become critical infrastructure. From council meetings and financial operations to utility systems and staff collaboration, municipal services increasingly depended on stable, secure networks, while employees and community members came to expect those services to work consistently, without disruption or delay.
Reflecting on the City's earlier environment, City Council Member Josef Verbanac noted that many technologies had been “largely considered as ‘glorified office supplies’ rather than critical components of operational material.”
As the City's reliance on technology increased, so did the need for greater visibility, documentation, and ongoing oversight, reinforcing the need for continuous network management.
When the City partnered with Northriver IT, the challenge was more complicated than simply replacing equipment. Many of their network components had little or no documentation, making repairs, upgrades, and replacements difficult.
Rather than start over, the goal was to strengthen the infrastructure already supporting essential operations while reducing risk and improving reliability over time.
Northriver IT worked alongside the City’s team to bring structure and consistency to the network infrastructure connecting municipal facilities. Rather than treating the network as a static upgrade cycle, the team focused on understanding the existing environment, resolving undocumented dependencies, and establishing a more sustainable model for ongoing support.
Assessed existing systems and infrastructure across municipal locations.
Identified and addressed undocumented dependencies that could affect repairs, upgrades, or replacements.
Applied municipal technology experience to the City’s unique infrastructure challenges.
Delivered NetContinuum™ managed networking + connectivity through one continuous model combining deployment, monitoring, lifecycle management, and support.
The City gained a stronger operational foundation designed to maintain performance over time and ensure issues were addressed as they emerged, without placing additional strain on internal resources.
Today, the City of McLaughlin’s environment supports:
Three connected municipal buildings using managed, fixed wireless connectivity
Desktop systems used in daily municipal operations
A Teams-enabled conference room supporting City Hall collaboration
An AMR/AMI access point located on a nearby water tower
For the City, success isn't defined by technology itself. It's measured through outcomes that help staff serve their community more effectively:
Reliable uptime and operational continuity
Faster issue resolution
Predictable support costs
Easy-to-use technology that staff can depend on without distraction
Perhaps most importantly, municipal employees gained confidence knowing support was available when they needed it.