City of Eagle Pass Lacks Computer Network and Qualified IT Personnel
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass City Council learned at their special meeting held on Tuesday July 21, 2015 that the City of Eagle Pass lacks its own computer network and has been unable to hire qualified Information Technology personnel to operate its computer software and network needs, leaving the City of Eagle Pass’s computers vulnerable to being hacked by third parties.
During the City Manager’s Report, City Council Woman Gloria E. Hernandez asked City Manager Gloria Barrientos if the reports that the City of Eagle Pass was generating were either provided directly from the computer software programs that are in place for the City Administration or if administration was summarizing those reports.
Barrientos replied that City Administration does summarize those monthly reports due to a recommendation in the past.
“It would be a lot faster if the departments would just print their monthly reports and submit them to Council. However, some years back we got a recommendation because our monthly reports to council from our finance department were about 30 pages long. So we were asked to summarize and make it more efficient, so that’s what they’ve been doing,” said Barrientos.
“That seems to me like doing double work in some of the departments. My question is are we using them (computer programs) and would it save some time if we would get the reports directly from the software?” asked Hernandez.
Council discussed how in the future there could be certain department reports directly generated through the software programs currently installed and in use.
“And, if were not up to date on those then maybe that is part of what we need to look at, to update ourselves into the computer world,” said Councilman Hernandez.
“So you would like to have the monthly reports to just be generated by computer?” asked Barrientos.
Hernandez stated that she would not be moving on that as part of a motion but that she was just trying to figure out how the council was getting the reports from each department.
Council and Administration also discussed the status of the City’s Information Technology Department and the hiring of IT personnel, as well as the Finance Department.
“I would imagine that the Finance Department is up there with software and I would think that the Bridge department is also, we’ve had some upgrades on the software. I am not asking for 120 pages , the same report that you give us , limit the fields, I mean there is a way to limit what is that you are asking for, If it can be done. If it can’t be done, I’m not asking for you to go out of your way for the next meeting, let’s just move in the right direction,” said Hernandez.
Councilman Luis E. Sifuentes asked City Manager Gloria Barrientos what was the status of the Information Technology Department and filling of certain IT personnel positions.
San Juana Garza, City Finance Director, replied that the IT position was still open and that the City had interviewed two different companies and made offers but that they had both declined.
“So we’re back to square one, yes,” said City Fianance Director Garza.
“I did contact the company that you recommended and the Mayor also asked. I did ask them to come in and look at the infrastructure and they are working a proposal for the city at this time,” added Garza.
“THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A NETWORK. And I already got a list of the equipment that we would need to purchase and they are working out the rest of the proposal,” said Finance Director San Juana Garza.
Councilman Sifuentes stated that this item was very important to get immediately so that the City can operate more efficiently and professionally.
“We need to have those I.T. people because I know from experience how weak our I.T. system is,” noted Councilman Sifuentes.
Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu then intervened.
“Basically on that issue, I didn’t specifically refer to any company but I don’t know if maybe what we need to do in a situation like that is look towards the Request For Proposals (RFP) process and looking into particular areas that can come in do a full assessment of the I.T. within the City because we already lost a large amount of time. When I think we’ve been waiting on this issue. I don’t know the reasons as to why they are declining the position. Is it an issue of payment?” asked Mayor Cantu.
Finance Director Garza stated both persons offered the IT Director position had declined the position because the private sector is paying higher salaries and benefits than the City of Eagle Pass. “I think we need to come up with the best possible solution,” said Mayor Cantu.
City Manager Barrientos stated she had met with the department directors for the new budget process and that this has been one of the topics that have been discussed. “How do we recruit, what can we do to recruit and retain our employees. We have to see what options are out there and what are the cost to the City, including the pros and cons.” said Barrientos.
“That is actually on an issue of trying to address the benefits side and what we can do for recruitment, but we’re dealing with a very critical issue where I think there is even a possibility of losing information within our system network and that is something that I would hate to see that our departments have any type of system crashes that can affect the actual information that is retained from request or anything of that such. That is my worry.” Said Mayor Cantu. “But right now at this stage what are we doing to address that concern in moving faster.” Added Cantu.
“We’re getting proposals from people that we can contract to address this issue immediately,.”replied Barrientos.
“So, have Request for Proposals has already been sent out?” asked Mayor Cantu.
“Like Mrs. Garza mentioned. She contacted these individuals and they came and looked at our system and they’re going to submit a proposal. So we’re already addressing that,” replied Barrientos.
The City of Eagle Pass does not have a compatible computer network system as every City computer has a stand alone system, noted Finance Director Garza.
“So, if that Personal Computer crashes that information is lost. That’s an issue for at least public transparency and issues of that nature to me it’s a huge concern,” noted Mayor Cantu.
Finance Director Garza then emphasized that moving along with the procurement of an I.T. person or company was needed to catch up with the technological times because “the City of Eagle Pass is a few decades behind.” No kidding.
“Well it’s good that we’re finally getting that information sent to Council that we may be a few decades behind,” concluded Cantu.
The astounding revelation by City Finance Director San Juana Garza that the City of Eagle Pass does not have a computer software network system and that the City is technologically behind with its computer systems capabilities raises serious problems with the possibility of the City’s public information being easily hacked by a third party and the loss of critical and material public records and information if a stand alone personal computer goes down. Eagle Pass taxpayers deserve better than what City Council and City Administration are providing its citizens with technologically outdated computer systems while annually raising taxes. One taxpayer told the Eagle Pass Business Journal that the City should purchase a professional and technologically advanced computer network system and increase their IT Director position pay and benefits instead of spending approximately $500,000 on a miniature golf course, questioning the City’s priorities.
