COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Thursday, April 11, 2002, 9:00 a.m.

State Office Building, Room 6Z, Lincoln, Nebraska

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chris Anderson, City of Ashland

Gene Hand, Public Service Commission

Ron Heezen, Omaha Public Libraries

Pat Langan, (Alt. for Stu Miller Nebraska Department of Economic)

Michael Nolan, City of Norfolk

Jeanne Saathoff, Kearney Public Library

Craig Schroeder, Rural Development Commission

Ted Smith, Norfolk Public Library

Bob Sweeney, AIM Institute (via phone bridge)

Bruce Thiel, Bryan-LGH East

Mary Wernke, Letter Perfect Communications

MEMBERS ABSENT: Len Benson, Faith Regional Health System; Donna Hammack, St. Elizabeth Foundation; Lance Hedquist, City of South Sioux City; Harold Krueger, Chadron Community Hospital; Jim Lowe, Midwest MicroSystems; Ted Schultz, Nebraska Association of Hospitals and Health Systems; Max Thacker, UNMC; and Gary Warren, Hamilton Communications

Dr. Heezen called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. Roll call and official business were tabled until more members arrived. The council proceeded with updates.

NITC AND COMMUNITY COUNCIL UPDATES

NETCOM Pilot Project, Steve Schafer. The first attempt at an RFP for NETCOM was not successful. A pilot project in Scottsbluff has been planned as a proof of concept. The State of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska are key players. There’s tremendous interest and other communities, such as North Platte and Kearney, are requesting pilot projects. Mr. Schafer entertained questions and comments from the council members.

Nebraska Network, Steve Schafer. The Nebraska Network Work Group is closely aligned with NETCOM. NETCOM is about aggregation for a statewide transport layer. Nebraska Network goes beyond aggregation by focusing on the applications and management of the statewide network. Mr. Schafer entertained questions and comments from the council members.

Telehealth, Anne Byers. The subcommittee has been meeting regularly. Research is being conducted on telehealth issues nation-wide and approaches and/or strategies utilized by other states. Health and Human Services has kept the group up-to-date on Medicaid issues. Several members will be doing a telehealth presentation at the Nebraska Distance Learning Conference in June.

ROLL CALL, INTRODUCTIONS AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

Roll call was taken. There were ten voting members present. A quorum existed to conduct official business.

APPROVAL OF JANUARY MINUTES

Mr. Smith moved to approve the January 4, 2002 minutes as presented. Mr. Thiel seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion was carried by voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

MEMBERSHIP

Some of the council members' terms will expire within the next couple of months. Ms. Byers will send out an email to those members asking if they would be interested in serving a second term. The council will need to approve returning members at the next meeting.

COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY FUND AWARDS

Project summaries are available via the agenda posted on the Web site. Grant funds are being affected by budget cuts. The office is currently calculating what funds are available to fund grants.

Mr. Nolan moved to approve the recommendations for funding and to award top rated projects as available funds would allow. Mr. Hand seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Anderson-Abstained, Hand-Yes, Heezen-Abstained, Langan-Yes, Nolan-Yes, Saathoff-Yes, Smith-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, Thiel-Abstained, and Wernke-Yes. Voting results – 7-Yes, 3-Abstained, 0-No. The motion was carried by majority vote.

Ms. Byers will gather a committee to discuss ideas, processes, etc. for the next funding cycle.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND ACTION PLANS

Ms. Byers reviewed the new proposed results oriented priorities.

Mr. Thiel moved to approve the Community Council 2002 Priorities for inclusion in the updated Statewide Technology Plan. Mr. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Wernke-Yes, Theil-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, Smith-Yes, Saathoff-Yes, Nolan-Yes, Langdan-Yes, Heezen-Yes, Hand-Yes, and Anderson-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.

Ms. Byers reviewed the proposed Action Items that related to the council’s priorities. A suggestion was made to clarify “standards for service level” in Action Plan Item #1. Mr. Theil is exploring community health ideas in telehealth for Action Item #3.

Mr. Schroeder arrived at 9:56 a.m.

Mr. Thiel moved to approve the Community Council’s 2002 Action Plan Items for inclusion in the updated Statewide Technology Plan with the clarification on Item #1. Ms. Saathoff seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion was carried by voice vote.

NEXT MEETING DATE AND LOCATION AND ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting of the NITC Community Council will be held on Friday, June 7th, 9 a.m. Mr. Thiel will check into Pine Lake facility for the location.

Mr. Hand moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Thiel seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion was carried by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 10:17 a.m.

Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Anne Byers of the Office of the CIO/NITC.

Meeting Minutes