City Seeking Computer Upgrade

— The Information Technology Division wants to update the city’s computer system to this year’s model from those of the last decade.

The division asked for $374,915 for a modernization project to replace computer servers and more than 100 computer work stations. No upgrades have been made in five years, said Mark Gutte, division director.

“All of our servers are at least five years old,” Gutte said. “Some of them are nine years old. All of them are running in a 24/7 environment at near capacity. We need updates.”

A server is a computer that runs and stores data for a computer system.

City employees have noticed the system slowing down.

“In the afternoons, my computer really slows down,” said Stephanie Sisco, administrative assistant in the Fire Department. “I’ve had the same computer for at least five years.

The updates would allow the city’s computer system to change how it stores information, Gutte said.

Now, each server is dedicated to one department or function. All of the Microsoft Office application data is stored on one server, Gutte said.

If a server goes down, the computers in the affected department can’t access that system or that function.

The new system would connect all the city’s servers together to form a bank of computing power and storage, Gutte said. Each department or program accessed by several computer users would share the bank.

“It’s all modular. We would be able to pull a server offline if it failed without shutting down the system,” Gutte said.

Computer systems have been moving in this direction for several years, Gutte said. The slow economy kept the city from updating computers, but it also allowed the new technology to develop, he said.

The update would also allow the addition of some new programs, Gutte said.

One would be an upgrade of computers in ambulances, said Fire Chief Mike Irwin.

“We are looking at electronic patient care reporting systems,” Irwin said. “Those would report a patient’s vital signs directly without typing them in.”

Alderman Jim Reed, chairman of the City Council’s Technology Committee, said he understands computer systems are outdated almost as soon as they are unpacked.

“It happens almost that fast,” Reed said.

Reed said he will have to go over the proposal carefully but supports some updates to the system.

The proposal will be on the council’s Capital Improvement Program Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

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