Agenda - 03-02-2006-5h - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 2, 2006 Action Age5~ Item No. SUBJECT: Additional Funds for Public Health Preparedness DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: None Rosemary Summers, 245-2411 PURPOSE: To accept additional funds for public health preparedness and authorize their expenditure for equipment. BACKGROUND: Each county in North Carolina receives an annual allocation for public health preparedness through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant to the State of North Carolina. In federal fiscal year 04-05, North Carolina returned unspent funds. This year the state reallocated local funds based on expenditures through December 31, 2005 through a competitive application process, The Health Department applied for and was awarded an additional $21,059 that must be spent by May 30, 2006, The Health Department was approved for funding for 12 handheld computers and 2 laptops equipped with Geographic Information System/Global Positioning Satellite (GIS/GPS) software.. This equipment must meet the specifications for field equipment that has already been purchased and used by other counties in the state to ensure interoperability in the event of a disaster, The equipment proposed for acquisition has been reviewed and approved by the Chief Information Officer, Acquisition of this equipment is consistent with the County's technical direction to increase deployment of technology in the field to enable County staff to operate more efficiently and to provide more responsive customer service in operational areas such as environmental health, inspections, emergency management, etc. The Orange County Information Technology Advisory Committee considered this technological direction at its mast recent meeting and gave it a favorable review. Six of the handhelds and the laptops will be assigned to Environmental Health Specialists for use in the field on a daily basis. The units will enable field staff to locate and plot wells and septic systems using real time GPS data.. The remaining units will be utilized to train staff in order that the units may be used efficiently during outbreak situations to record survey data so that it can be analyzed, All equipment is subject to being "called in" if needed during an outbreak or a public health emergency. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The allocation of $21,059 covers the initial cost of the units, the software, licenses, and training. Continuing costs will include any upgrades in software and license renewals and would be addressed through future year budget appropriations,.