diff --git a/ssa/slackbot/slackbot.py b/ssa/slackbot/slackbot.py
index 3c9de72..045d9ee 100644
--- a/ssa/slackbot/slackbot.py
+++ b/ssa/slackbot/slackbot.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Use slack app integration to post messages via the slack api
 import configparser
 import influxdb
 import time
-import datetime
+import dateutil.parser
 import requests
 
 PUMP1_FLOW_QUERY = """
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class SlackBot:
     def __init__(self):
         self.config = configparser.ConfigParser()
         self.config.read("slackbot_config.ini")
-        self.sleep_time_sec = int(self.config.get("update_period_minutes", "30")) * 60
+        self.sleep_time_sec = int(self.config["general"]["update_period_minutes"]) * 60
 
     def run(self):
         while True:
@@ -31,37 +31,38 @@ class SlackBot:
 
     def post_update(self):
         # poll latest data
-        with influxdb.InfluxDBClient(
+        idb_client = influxdb.InfluxDBClient(
             self.config["influxdb"].get("host", "localhost"),
             self.config["influxdb"].get("port", "8086"),
             self.config["influxdb"].get("username", None),
             self.config["influxdb"].get("password", None),
             self.config["influxdb"].get("dbname", "paddle"),
-        ) as idb_client:
-            result1 = idb_client.query(PUMP1_FLOW_QUERY)
-            (pump1, time1) = self.parse_pump_query_result(result1, "Pump1")
-            result2 = idb_client.query(PUMP2_FLOW_QUERY)
-            (pump2, time2) = self.parse_pump_query_result(result2, "Pump2")
+        )
+        result1 = idb_client.query(PUMP1_FLOW_QUERY)
+        (pump1, time1) = self.parse_pump_query_result(result1, "Pump1")
+        result2 = idb_client.query(PUMP2_FLOW_QUERY)
+        (pump2, time2) = self.parse_pump_query_result(result2, "Pump2")
+        idb_client.close()
 
         # post to slack channel
-        dtime1 = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(time1)
-        dtime2 = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(time2)
-        message = f"Pump1: {pump1:4.1f} ({dtime1.strftime("%d %b %Y, %I:%M%p")})\nPump2: {pump2:4.1f} ({dtime2.strftime("%d %b %Y, %I:%M%p")})"
+        # parse iso times and convert to local timezone
+        dtime1 = dateutil.parser.isoparse(time1).astimezone()
+        dtime2 = dateutil.parser.isoparse(time2).astimezone()
+        message = f"Pump1: {pump1:4.1f} ({dtime1.strftime('%d %b %Y, %I:%M%p')})\nPump2: {pump2:4.1f} ({dtime2.strftime('%d %b %Y, %I:%M%p')})"
 
         json_message = {
-            "channel": self.config["slack"].get("channel_id"),
+            "channel": self.config["slack"]["channel_id"],
             "text": message,
         }
-        
+
         headers = {
-            "Authorization": f"Bearer {self.config["slack"].get("token")}",
-            "Content-type": "application/json"
+            "Authorization": f"Bearer {self.config['slack']['token']}",
+            "Content-type": "application/json",
         }
-        post_url = self.config["slack"].get("post_url")
+        post_url = self.config["slack"]["post_url"]
 
         requests.post(url=post_url, headers=headers, json=json_message)
 
-
     def parse_pump_query_result(self, result, name):
         data = list(result.get_points(name))[0]
         value = data.get("value")
diff --git a/ssa/slackbot/slackbot_config.ini b/ssa/slackbot/slackbot_config.ini
index 19ad631..aa45ff2 100644
--- a/ssa/slackbot/slackbot_config.ini
+++ b/ssa/slackbot/slackbot_config.ini
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+[general]
 update_period_minutes = 30
 
 [influxdb]