Hello again,

I live in a rural farming community and will be serving as a board member for our local community services district (supplies water at this time) after tonight's meeting. I received a heads up that the existing system used for billing and interpreting/calculating meter readings was considered "old, and Y2k status unknown" so they decided to buy a new computer. Did so a few months back, from Gateway (for the technical support and name brand - 2 board members would not let the administrator get the computer from the local guy) after getting a lightly detailed quote from a local computer provider (this is what they used for their configuration order to Gateway!). Now they have discovered that the computer from Gateway doesn't have enough serial ports and WILL not allow hookup by the portable meter readers (as I understand it). Gateway says their is no fix for the problem and local computer guy shook his head and said he will not attempt to fix and then assume responsibility for Gateway's machine.

A few words were said about the local guy's quote not being completely detailed but, of course, he wasn't being paid as a consultant to draw up specs for them to go to Gateway with.... Sigh. It looks like the administrator for the agency just got a very expensive computer for her word processing needs and the district is talking about giving her another $5000 to try to get the RIGHT computer before Y2k. I am not sure which way I will vote - will wait to learn details tonight. Part of me thinks they should focus on a manual workaround in case the old computer (still functioning) fails. This is a small agencie (approximately 900 water customers). We shall see.

I wonder how many other companies/agencies handled this issue similarly and are scrambling now?

Oh, they had an opportunity to buy a used, high quality generator for back up power but the majority of the existing board voted it down, saying that they didn't believe Y2k was a real risk and that if electric/water went down then "they" (that wonderful unknown "they" that just magically appears in a disaster) would bring water trucks in from somewhere - or we can go to the river (several miles away) for water. The same person commented that during a recent flood evacuation that she witnessed evacuees in the Red Cross shelters eating "better than you or I eat", steak dinners, etc. I was speechless. Had already said all I could, though I did ask the legal advisor if board members could be sued if problems occurred which could have been avoided by purchasing the generator? He smiled and said people can sue for anything but individual board members should be protected because the decision was made by the "board.

Sure hope Y2k causes no electricity or embedded problems around here (they relied fully on manufacturers' info about whether the pump/tank/pipeline computerized and interactive components are compliant). Prepped as much as I can just in case.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), December 09, 1999

Answers

Sorry for the typos - was distracted by my 3 yr. old clamoring about Santa needing to bring him "Percy" ( of Thomas Tank Engine fame).

:)

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), December 09, 1999.

Amazable!

Hope you have well water.

Good LUCK, Kristi!

*Big Sigh*

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 09, 1999.

Good effort on your part, enjoy the holidays through your young one's eyes....they get too old too quick!

---

At the next meeting, again ask about contingency planning - and ask the fire chief/head of volunteer fire dpet to be there...he might be interested in knowing that there is a great chance that there won't be water pressure available.

I'd recommend giving the 5000.00 to the local PC guy, and a clause letting him off liability as he tries to fix Gateway's/your board's purchasing error. After all, he could fix the problem, but Gateway won't care (later, when you try to bring the system back to normal.)

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 09, 1999.

Hmmm I think that those 900 people that the water district serves would make a nice little class action lawsuit. And any law suit can name anyone it wants (just a few more lines for typed in by a secretary and there are all the individuals names). Nothing prevents the individuals from suing the board members for personal negligence in this. I know. I used to head the legal Dept of a large auto insurance brokerage.

Your best bet at this point is to contact your local newspaper and tell them what is going on. Suggest that they ask a local attorney about what "legal" ramifications there are for the boards failure (have the reporter tell the attorney hey its free advertising for him/her). A nasty little newspaper article should light a fire.

If you don't wish to go that route then put up a flyer on all the town bulletin boards telling the situation.

-- Stacia (ClassyCwgl@aol.com), December 09, 1999.