Computers that constantly lock up are disrupting work at Piscataquis emergency management

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Old technology that causes Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency computers to lock up in the middle of tasks is making it difficult for the group to finish its new website.

The agency experiences about an hour of downtime whenever computers lock up because the older operating systems take a while to reboot, Director Jaeme Duggan said at a Piscataquis County Commissioners meeting Tuesday.

In recent months, commissioners allocated portions of the county’s $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to technology upgrades, along with premium pay for county employees, hiring an ARPA consultant and other projects. They approved $15,000, or $75,000 for five years, to replace 38 computers in county departments, and $15,000 to purchase an email program with improved cybersecurity, County Manager Michael Williams said previously.

Computer troubles slowing emergency management projects such as the website are the latest in a string of problems across county agencies. Last month, the county’s head of maintenance detailed air flow problems and upgrades needed at the Piscataquis County Jail and courthouse, but commissioners said there is no money to make the repairs. The county commissioners have supported using ARPA funds to pursue a major overhaul of radio communications for emergency personnel because infrastructure is outdated and problematic, but have not specified the amount. 

“There are some days I have to go home to work on it [the new Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency website] because I can’t get things to save,” Duggan said. “It’s just very frustrating. That just doesn’t seem right to us. There’s a lot of downtime.”

Duggan has been designing a new website so the agency has its own place with contacts and resources apart from the countywide website. 

Duggan has made the county’s IT department aware of the computer issues, and it has told her that new computers should be arriving although timing for that wasn’t specified, she said. The computers and their outdated Windows 10 program, along with the unreliable connection, seem to be causing problems, she said. 

The courthouse saw a big difference when it switched its internet provider, Duggan said.

“This is the first I know of the problem,” Williams said, adding he will look into the emergency management agency’s computers. 

Williams did not provide a timeline for when new computers would arrive, but he said the county is experiencing a lag time similar to items and materials across industries. He’s also waiting on information about the email software, he said.

The emergency management agency continues to work on updating its five-year hazard mitigation plan, meant to prevent and reduce harmful effects of natural and human-caused disasters and other emergencies. The agency has met with municipalities across Piscataquis County and has three more towns to check off its list, Duggan said.

She encouraged the public to take the hazard mitigation survey, available on the new website and updated Piscataquis County Emergency Management App. Three meetings will take place at 5-8 p.m. on April 6-8 at the Peaks House to allow the public to weigh in on the hazard mitigation plan. People can also attend virtually.

The plan will be written after the public meetings, then sent to the state and eventually the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Duggan said.

Williams gave an update on problematic dirt roads across the county, including in Hartford’s Point, Blanchard, Elliottsville Township and Frenchville Township.

“I got a text this morning from our contractor over in Orneville,” he said. “He said the county road over there is basically four-wheel drive access only. The whole road let go over the weekend and yesterday. It’s soup all the way across.”

Williams is fielding a handful of complaints from residents and monitoring roads, he said. For the time being, they will remain open. The roads need to fully dry and the dirt firm before work can be leveled off and graded, he said. 

Commissioners also approved a $1,672 special warrant for COVID-19 relief reimbursement to employees with spouses and dependents. 

The warrant is part of a federal effort that provides reimbursement for entities considered “small group insurance,” meaning they have 50 or fewer employees, Williams said. The funds come from the insurance company, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, he said.