Technology dearth remedied

BURTON — After the better part of a year, the city’s antique computers will be replaced after go-ahead from council.

The new technology will be leased from St. Louis-based CSI Leasing and will be replaced on a three-year refresh cycle. The first monthly lease payment of $6,919 will be due in July for four servers and 70 computers.

Mayor Paula Zelenko said city administration under the previous mayor remained “techno-phobic.”

One working computer at city hall still runs using platform Windows 95. Windows 2000 to 2008 comprise the rest of the operating systems. The computers range from 1999 models to 2004 models and have been out of warranty for months to a year.

“We’re trying to catch up 10-15 years of technology neglected to the detriment of employees,” commented Councilman Vaughn Smith, who said that “antique computers” are in turn devaluating employees’ work in city hall.

During last year’s budget hearings, it was decided that $60,000 would be appropriated every year toward technology updates and maintenance.

Zelenko says that last year, time was used to upgrade programs, computer train employees and evaluate technology needs.

“There’s a whole variety of things that have to go on before getting workstations,” she said.

Currently, the city’s servers won’t support any new versions of programs.

Last year, $7,000 was spent to replace one server for the purpose of updating an accounting program.

“Before we bring in new workstations, we have to replace our servers or risk being incompatible,” said Ginger Burke-Miller, Burton city controller.

This year, some of the technology funds will go toward installing computer workstations in city offices.

According to Controller Ginger Burke-Miller, the complete set-up of the work stations is too much for the city’s lone IT employee, Mark Udell.

Zelenko said she is willing to hire a temporary employee for three months to assist with the installation process.

Udell said that when he was hired, he was told to never expect to have another IT coworker.

“One of the reasons I haven’t asked for help is because I didn’t think it was a good time with the layoffs,” he said.

“I do think this is a reflection of our IT guy,” said Councilman Danny Wells. “We’ve got to get some serious money into this. We’ve got to get it up and running.”

Udell predicts that he can get the computers online in six months or less, with workstations usable by Aug. 1 at the latest.

“I do believe with only one IT person, you’ve got a bottleneck,” remarked Smith.

Three options were presented to council on replacing the city’s computers: bringing in the new computers over three, two or one years.

Burke-Miller said the computer equipment was too old to consider replacing in segments.