State faces new computer challenge

Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 | 11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state computer system survived the weekend with no Y2K disruptions, but the real test will come this week as state workers return to their jobs.

Marlene Lockard, director of the state Department of Information Technology, said the state's computer system hummed along nicely during the changeover to the new century.

Lockard's department spent about $6 million to get the state's system Y2K compliant, and she spoke with optimism over the weekend.

"All our systems stayed operational," Lockard said. "It's too early to declare victory, but we're smiling."

The reason it's too early is that the computer system won't be fully tested until state workers have a few days to put the system through all of its paces.

"We anticipate our big push will be this week when everybody is back on line and using the system," Lockard said. "It's then we will flush out any problems.

"By the end of the week we should have a better idea."

Payroll checks for state workers and monthly payments for welfare recipients were printed early so there wouldn't be a delay. The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation printed up a four-week supply of checks for the jobless, but those won't be needed and the ordinary runs will be made.

Despite her staff working through the weekend to prepare for the regular business of the coming week, Lockard said there may indeed be minor problems.

"Each and every day computers go down," she said. "To think we will get through something of this magnitude without a glitch is an unreasonable expectation."