Carbon County officials are looking at what they can do regarding nine years of death records that are filed digitally with a private storage company that is going out of business.

On Thursday, the county commissioners and Coroner Robert Miller discussed a notice from eCedent LLCof Indiana, Pennsylvania, advising the county that the company is closing the business on July 31 and is terminating the agreement for processing Carbon's death certificates.The company said Carbon County must pay $1,500 for a bulk download of all the files currently stored within the program.The county pays approximately $750 annually in maintenance costs for the program.Miller told the commissioners that the last nine years of death certificates, photos and autopsy reports are currently stored with eCedent."They're holding us hostage really," he said. "They want $1,500 from us to put everything on bulk disc. I really wouldn't have that much of a problem (because he has all the original paperwork) but I don't have any of the photographs."He said that the state coroners association is currently looking to see if it can find a new vendor to replace eCedent, but details on possible solutions have not been released yet.The commissioners asked Miller if paying the fee was worth it. He said he doesn't want to see those files destroyed since he didn't have the complete files.Commissioner William O'Gurek said eCedent sent a letter saying the company was closing because it was essentially getting forced out of business.Miller said yes because the state came up with its own program - one that everyone hates to use.The commissioners tabled the action until next Thursday and plan to have the solicitor review the current contract with eCedent regarding getting its files before it approves paying for the fee.