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- County prepares for Y2K bug
- SUNNYSIDE (Monday 11-16-98)--County officials met with city councilmen tonight with an eye toward curbing effects of the Year 2000 bug on government computers of Yakima County and jurisdictions within it.
- Visitors to the regular council meeting included Yakima County Commissioner Jim Lewis, Undersheriff Lane Roberts and Emergency Services Mgr. Charles Erwin.
- Officials likened the Y2K bug to Mt. St Helens' eruption in 1980.
- "They told us the mountain was going to erupt, that's all. Nobody knew before it happened what that would mean," Lewis said. "We don't know whether our computers will shut down, whether nothing will happen, or whether the effect will be spotty."
- Lewis said the county is contacting all entities with whom it deals in order to head off a "bad situation". That includes the county's cities and vendors with whom the county does business. It's part of a year-long organizational effort the county has been conducting.
- Lewis emphasized nobody knows what will happen.
- "At least we'll have a three-hour advance warning. New York will be hit first,and that's fine", he quipped. He indicated the county will be on top of what's happening back east, as the new millennium sweeps through time zones from east to west.
- Lewis said the county is requesting that all jurisdictions in the county take part in a coordinated plan to diminish the effects of the bug. He indicated the county plans to be prepared, and if necessary, will cut off all current computer connections with entities who aren't.
- Charles Erwin said the county is looking at Y2K as it would any natural disaster.
- "We need to be prepared," he said. He asked city officials to name a representative to an "umbrella task force" who has authority to speak for the city in case of a countywide computer emergency.
- "This could be a tremendous people problem, or a tempest in a teapot. We don't know," Erwin said.
- Lane Roberts indicated the task force will do all it can to prevent any untoward effects of the Y2K bug. But the county is developing a contingency plan to address a worst-case scenario.
- "We're heard horror stories--even about possible riots," he said. "We want to be prepared for anything."
- City Mgr. Don Hahnfeldt said engineering tech Stephen Yu will be the city's contact for the Y2K issue, but he won't be the city's emergency preparedness representative. "We have to work on this. The county's ahead of us on this," he said.
In other business, the council:
- Referred to the Planning Commission a request by Wayne Linder to have the city annex his 1.2 acres located at 100 N. 16th St.
- Noted Sunnyside Community Hospital's classification from a Trauma Center 3 to 4 will affect the Fire Department's destination plans for accident victims. Patients formerly taken to SCH will go to Providence Hospital, Toppenish. Others may go to Yakima or the Tri-Cities, affecting city costs and staff time. Fire Chief Roger Schwab noted SCH is working hard to get another surgeon so it can again upgrade its trauma care center.
- Chief Wallace Anderson said he is discussing with Mabton PD the reopening of an interlocal agreement for communications services. "Hopefully we'll resolve this soon," he said.
- Will work on Edison Ave. be finished in time for the Lighted Farm Implement Parade set for Dec. 5? "We hope so," said Public Works Director Gary Potter. "If not, we'll certainly have some implements there."