>By ANNABEL GIRARD
Staff Writer

A computer problem that shut down Danville's financial recording for nearly three weeks has been solved, but will require an upgrade costing $25,000 to prevent future problems.

Spencer Rodgers, director of information services, said the problem was connected to an upgrade done in 1999 to software that keeps utility records. However, the flaw took until now to show up, Rodgers said.

Two weeks worth of data was lost, but the city was able to restore all of the information. "There was no serious data loss," Rodgers said.

However, he recommended Monday that the city move forward with a computer upgrade that had been planned for next year. The company that makes the software used for accounting purposes, American Fund Ware, has a new version. Rodgers said the problems that have plagued the city since late January could return.

Money will come from emergency fund

Cost for software, hardware and a consultant will run between $25,000 to $27,000, City Manager Steve Biven said. Biven said the money for the upgrade and consultant will be taken from the city's emergency fund.

Rodgers has been working with consultant Potter and Co. in Lexington, which specializes in providing computer software for accounting systems. The company will be hired for the upgrade at a maximum cost of $8,600. Other costs are an estimated at $17,000.

Rodgers said it will take four to six weeks for installation and training.

The city delayed a decision on a request from M&M Electric to use a state law that would allow it to claim a sales tax exemption on some equipment being installed at the water treatment plant. The city wants to know if that reduces M&M's overall expenses and whether that should be reflected in the cost to the city. A special meeting will be called to resolve the matter since equipment needs to be ordered now.

M&M is the contractor on a project that will change the way the city treats its water so it can meet new federal guidelines.

The Advocate Messenger

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002