Y2K Topic >> Computers Go Kaput; Data Filed The Old Way

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Note: I apologize if this has already been posted somewhere, I just found it while doing research in newspapers today. Please let me know. Thank you.

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Computers go kaput; data filed the old way

February 2, 2000

BY KIM BATES BLADE STAFF WRITER

TIFFIN - Seneca County officials are on the verge of fixing their Y2K-related computer problems at the sheriff's office.

The county commissioners on Monday agreed to borrow $123,191 from Old Fort Banking Co. to buy new computers and software for Sheriff H. Weldin Neff. The equipment should be delivered later this week and be on line next month.

The old computer system, which hasn't been replaced since the $6.8 million county jail was built in 1994, failed to work properly at midnight Dec. 31. That forced sheriff's deputies to begin logging all intakes at the county jail by hand.

Other sheriff's employees could not rely on their computers.

"They had some difficulty. They basically went back to the way it was done before with typewriters and pens," said Bob Anderson, county administrator.

Mr. Anderson said the county's Y2K compliance officer and sheriff's officials were aware of the potential computer problems last year.

"We had decided before the end of the year that we were going to move forward," Mr. Anderson said.

The purchase was delayed after the cost of newer computers came in higher than the original estimate, he said. The commissioners balked because they wanted to get the lowest possible price, he said.

The sheriff's office will receive 20 new computers and 13 printers, Mr. Anderson said. The money will cover training for employees, but the cost for the changeover could actually be higher than $123,000, Sheriff Neff said yesterday.

Meanwhile, employees have needed overtime to take the reports by hand. So far, they have logged 176 reports. Each report is between three and four pages.

"Of course anytime you have to do something by hand it creates a manpower problem," Sheriff Neff said.

Once the computers are installed, Sheriff Neff said employees first would have to enter all the handwritten reports, which could take additional overtime. The sheriff said he hopes to have the computers on line by March 1.

No serious problems have been reported as a result of the computer glitches, he said.

) 1999, 2000 The Blade, All Rights Reserved.

http://www.toledoblade.com/editorial/news/0b02data.htm

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 18, 2000

Answers

I haven't seen it before..interesting post!

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 18, 2000.

Well spotted Dee, for once here is a verifiable Y2K issue, with consequences and what has been done to correct it. Many thanks for this post.

-- Malcolm Taylor (taylorm@es.co.nz), February 18, 2000.

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