Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 3, 1999 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~_Q <br />SUBJECT: Orange County Y2K Preparations <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />IT Compliance Summary <br />Y2K Essential Services Summary <br />Public Safety Compliance Summary <br />Embedded Chips Compliance Summary <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Rod Visser, ext 2.300; Pam Jones, ext <br />2650; <br />Jim McGimsey, Y2K Coordinator, ext 3070 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a report on County preparations to deal with Year 2000 technology <br />challenges. <br />BACKGROUND: Experts believe that many computer systems will have at least some <br />difficulties in coping with the challenges presented when the year changes from 1999 to 2000, <br />because of limitations in old computer programming codes. There are concerns that many <br />computer programs and electronic devices with embedded microchips will malfunction because <br />of an inability to correctly recognize dates of January 1, 2000 and beyond. At their April 6, 1999 <br />meeting, the Board approved a contract with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, to provide assistance to <br />County staff in assessing, correcting, and testing the County's preparedness to continue <br />operations in light of these potential problems. <br />At their May 18, 1999 meeting, the Board received a Y2K implementation status report that <br />outlined the County's critical systems. On June 30, the Board received a report that indicated <br />that Orange County's critical systems are Year 2000 compliant. Work on other less critical <br />systems has continued over the summer. The focus for the remainder of 1999 is on testing <br />non-critical systems, expanding the public information component, and finalizing departmental <br />contingency planning for continuity of the most important County services, should <br />circumstances beyond the County's control (e.g. widespread unavailability of electrical power) <br />preclude normal operations and prevent the use of automated systems that the County has <br />rendered Y2K compliant. <br />Extensive documentation of County assessment, repair, testing, and validation efforts to date <br />are maintained by the Y2K Coordinator and are available for review at the Board's request. <br />Y2K Coordinator Jim McGimsey and staff members of the County's Y2K Steering Committee <br />