COMPUTER COMMITTEE
					 MEETING MINUTES

				 	 March 18, 2002

A regular meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Computer Committee was held on 
Monday, March 18, 2002 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  Chairman
Cooper called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Don Cooper, Chairman, Rita Dale and Earl Kay

MEMBERS ABSENT:	None

OTHERS PRESENT:	Tim Dolehanty, County Controller, Mary Piralli, Information Systems 
		Director


Additions / Deletions to the Agenda
Chairman Cooper called for additions or deletions to the agenda.  Hearing none, the agenda was declared 
approved as amended.

Public Comments
There were no public comments.

Correspondence and Information Items
No correspondence or information items were presented.

Agenda Items: Information Systems Department Matters
Chairman Cooper reviewed information requested at the February meeting including activity logs of 
department personnel, staffing proposal presented with the fiscal year 2002 budget request, and the list of 
software and hardware purchases approved for 2002.  The Committee discussed specific responsibilities 
of the Information Systems department.

Information Systems Department Director Mary Piralli explained the importance of building firewalls 
into the current network.  Increased public access to County information increases the importance of the 
firewalls to prevent unauthorized activities.  Piralli also confirmed that the department faces a consistent 
backlog of work.

Commissioner Dale stated there is no compelling reason for the Information Services department to 
continue 40-hour workweek operation.  She added that all County offices are meant to operate on a 35-
hour workweek, and that she would like all Commissioners to discuss this issue.  With the pending loss of 
the Hiawatha Behavioral Health contract at ten hours per week, Piralli stated conversion to the 35-hour 
workweek would not be difficult.

Chairman Cooper stated the Board acted to establish the 40-hour workweek for the department when it 
was first established.  He also shared his belief that a 35-hour workweek would represent a step backward 
and that the County would likely not be as proactive as in the past.  Piralli added that former Controller
Gordon Newland intended to see all offices migrate to a 40-hour workweek.

Commissioner Kay expressed his concern about adding an employee to work on the County's geographic 
information system (GIS).  He also proposed a work session for Commissioners to bring the Board up to 
date on the status of the GIS project.  The Committee discussed alternatives to hiring a full time employee
including internships, temporary employees, and the purchase of certain existing data.  It was noted that 
many departments already compile data that could utilized.  Commissioners agreed about the importance 
of getting the system to an operational stage.

Public Comments
There were no public comments.

Committee Comments
There were no additional committee comments.

Chairperson's Comments
Chairman Cooper had no additional comments.

Adjourn
It was moved by Commissioner Kay, supported by Commissioner Dale, to adjourn the meeting.  
On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

Chairman Cooper declared the meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.








__________________________________                    __________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder		      Don Cooper, Committee Chairman