Brian Peffer, information technology director at A-Tech in Butler, works at a computer at the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center in February. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Chad Julkowski has observed his share of changes since he came aboard as a part-time employee at Cranberry Township’s information technology department nearly 20 years ago.

Now the department’s director, Julkowski has watched the size of the department essentially double to keep pace with the township’s growing IT needs.

He also has been on hand to see new devices such as dashboard cameras and — coming soon — body cameras work their way into the township police department’s toolbox. He has watched the township go from using employees to manually read water meters every other month to having those meters read remotely by one of two radio-equipped water towers.

“Obviously, our technology has advanced a lot in the last 20 years, and we’ve taken on a lot more,” Julkowski said. “There are different demands and different expectations in the services themselves.

“Twenty years ago, we didn’t have an online bill pay portal, and today that’s a very normal thing to have. Our website has grown significantly. And at the waterpark, our software changed significantly. All those things we touch in some form or fashion.

“When I think back to my first days here, I’m still amazed at how much we do today.”