Houston Chronicle article from 12/8 by staff writer Julie Mason

"Audit raises red flag at Y2K glitch/ city told of possible billing trouble"

http://www.houstonchronicle.com

The aritcle says that y2k problems in the water billing system could cost the city 1.5 million per day. The audit done by Deloitte & Touche was halted so that a red flag could be raised.

City Auditor Steve Schoonover is quoted in the article as saying that the systems will not be ready in time.

-- j0101 (j0101@aol.com), December 20, 1998

Answers

But - and you should ask this in the editorial page - will they continue delivering water (if they can do that) even when the billing system fails?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 20, 1998.

Hmm...do I detect a cover-up on Houston's part about Y2K? Here's a quote from another article I saw just a few days ago:

"When Houston City Controller Sylvia Garcia dispatched two of her auditors to meet with Margaret Hansen, the city information systems administrator, they were turned away.

Seeking to insure municipal computers are ready to handle any Y2K problems that might arise when the year 2000 arrives, the auditors were seeking an overview of the city's Y2K compliance program. But for some reason, the city's administration apparently doesn't want any outsiders providing oversight on the compliance issue.

Officials claim the city is on track, and input from the controller's office isn't necessary."

The full article is at: http://www.amcity.com/houston/stories/1998/12/14/editorial2.html?h=y2k

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), December 20, 1998.