HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-02-2006-5hORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 2, 2006
Action Age5~
Item No.
SUBJECT: Additional Funds for Public Health Preparedness
DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
None Rosemary Summers, 245-2411
PURPOSE: To accept additional funds for public health preparedness and authorize their
expenditure for equipment.
BACKGROUND: Each county in North Carolina receives an annual allocation for public health
preparedness through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant to the State of North
Carolina. In federal fiscal year 04-05, North Carolina returned unspent funds. This year the
state reallocated local funds based on expenditures through December 31, 2005 through a
competitive application process, The Health Department applied for and was awarded an
additional $21,059 that must be spent by May 30, 2006,
The Health Department was approved for funding for 12 handheld computers and 2 laptops
equipped with Geographic Information System/Global Positioning Satellite (GIS/GPS) software..
This equipment must meet the specifications for field equipment that has already been
purchased and used by other counties in the state to ensure interoperability in the event of a
disaster, The equipment proposed for acquisition has been reviewed and approved by the
Chief Information Officer, Acquisition of this equipment is consistent with the County's technical
direction to increase deployment of technology in the field to enable County staff to operate
more efficiently and to provide more responsive customer service in operational areas such as
environmental health, inspections, emergency management, etc. The Orange County
Information Technology Advisory Committee considered this technological direction at its mast
recent meeting and gave it a favorable review.
Six of the handhelds and the laptops will be assigned to Environmental Health Specialists for
use in the field on a daily basis. The units will enable field staff to locate and plot wells and
septic systems using real time GPS data.. The remaining units will be utilized to train staff in
order that the units may be used efficiently during outbreak situations to record survey data so
that it can be analyzed, All equipment is subject to being "called in" if needed during an
outbreak or a public health emergency.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The allocation of $21,059 covers the initial cost of the units, the
software, licenses, and training. Continuing costs will include any upgrades in software and
license renewals and would be addressed through future year budget appropriations,.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board accept the funds and
authorize their expenditure for this equipment.