Monday, Florissant City Council approved the funding for the public works department to purchase iPads and data plans for workers but postponed a bill to hire two additional employees for the department.

The new iPads would help make employees in the field much more efficient, and the council will continue to weigh the need for the addition of two full-time workers.

In a previous Patch article, Public Works Director Lou Jearls said the city council has recently sought to stiffen its rules and regulations for building codes and asked the inspection department to be more vigilant in its enforcement, particularly on rental and vacant properties.

He explained that the software equipped on the iPads and their access to 3G Internet will allow forms used by inspectors to be instantly filled out, uploaded and stored.

It also holds advantages when the city issues tickets. Photos of violations can be taken and brought before a judge on the same day, Jearls said.

However, even with the high tech helping with the heavy lifting, Jearls said more employees will be needed.

Councilors said they would like to further discuss the need of two full-time employees in the department and possibly even consider just the single addition of a part-time position for the department during its next work session.