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Town has computer issues Changeover after upgrades causes e-mail problems
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, August 15, 2013
INUVIK
Some gremlins have crept into the Inuvik municipal computer system during a changeover.
An anonymous caller told Inuvik Drum that the town was having issues with its computer systems during upgrades over the last month.
The problems have been a headache for the town, with e-mail addresses affected as well as payment systems and payroll, although a high-ranking municipal staff member downplayed the issue.
Senior administrative officer Grant Hood said Aug. 8 the problems were relatively minor, although he acknowledged some of what the source said was correct.
The e-mail system had been temperamental recently, he said, but was up and running again by Aug. 7. Town staff could at least receive e-mails by then, Hood explained, but might have had some problems sending out.
A more serious problem was the inability to access old e-mails, but that was being worked on. Hood said some passwords and codes were missing from earlier systems, but that was being looked after as well.
"It won't be an issue again."
He said to his knowledge the town hadn't been having any problems issuing bills, such as for water payments. If there was any problem, residents would not be charged extra, he added.
Water payments were due out at the end of July and the beginning of August, Hood said.
There had been problems with people paying the bills, he said. Credit card payments didn't seem to be affected, but in some cases residents were being told the system was down and the payments couldn't be processed.
"That should be fixed by tomorrow (Aug. 9)," he said.
As for the alleged payroll problems, Hood said the town had been having some difficulties inputting the date but he expected the Aug. 9 paycheques would go off without a hitch.
"I don't think we're going to have any problems with people getting paid," he said.
Apparently, many of the council members weren't aware of the issues. Mayor Floyd Roland is away on vacation. Councillor Alana Mero said she had heard nothing about the computer issues from town hall.
"No, I don't know anything about it," she said.
Councillor Terry Halifax said he thought there must be a problem.
"I noticed e-mails were bouncing back from staff and I didn't know why," he said. "If there are issues like paying water bills affecting service to the public, I think that should be communicated not just to council, but to the public at large. I don't know the extent of the issue, so can't really give an informed response (beyond that)."
The town has been without a full-time IT specialist for several months now. Hood has been filling in while that job search proceeds.
Halifax said the position has recently been filled.
The issue came to the forefront again at the Aug. 12 committee of the whole meeting when councillors Melinda Gillis and Clarence Wood said their email still wasn't working properly.
Gillis was also critical of the lack of communication with the town, saying she hadn't been informed there were server problems.
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