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COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Wednesday, February 23, 2005, 1:00 p.m.

Lincoln: Executive Building, Suite 103, 521 So. 14th Street
Norfolk: NECC MaClay Bldg, Room 122, 801 East Benjamin Avenue
South Sioux City: City Hall, 1615 1st Avenue

MINUTES

Members and Alternates Present: K.C. Belitz, John Jordison, Len Benson, Carol Brandl, Donna Hammack, Gene Hand, Norene Fitzgerald, Lance Hedquist, Steve Williams, and Bob Sweeney

Members Absent: Chris Anderson, Lisa Dominisse, Roger Keetle, Harold Krueger, Georgia Masters Keightley, Michael Nolan, Jeanne Saathoff, Ted Smith, Max Thacker, Mary Wernke

Guests: Roger Hahn, Kit Keller, Tim Stalker, and Bill Coufal

Staff: Brenda Decker, Steve Henderson, Anne Byers and Lori Lopez Urdiales

ROLL CALL, CALL TO ORDER, AND NOTICE OF POSTING

Mr. Sweeney called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Mr. Sweeney asked Ms. Byers to conduct the meeting. There were nine members present at the time of roll call. A quorum was not present. The meeting continued with information items. Action items were tabled until a quorum was present.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

COMMENTS FROM BRENDA DECKER, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

AND INTRODUCTION OF STEVE HENDERSON, STATE OF NEBRASKA

On February 9th, Governor Heineman announced the appointment of Ms. Decker as the new Chief Information Officer for the State of Nebraska. She has been with State of Nebraska for 27 years. Steve Henderson will be the administrator for Policy and Project Management and will be working with the NITC and the councils. In the past the CIO has been in a planning capacity. Governor Heineman’s vision for the CIO is to oversee and combine the operational and policy aspects of I.T. Steve Schafer will remain with the organization overseeing IT financial services. The organization will have a little over 400 employees. The CIO office will be looking at shared services within state government to develop an enterprise focus. Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy now chairs the NITC and wants to meet with each of the councils.

TELEHEALTH UPDATE AND ELECTRONIC RECORDS

Dave Glover, Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network

The Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network has been a collaborative effort of hospitals, public health departments, homeland security and state agencies. It is a private IP-based network that will connect all Nebraska hospitals and public health departments so that communications can occur in case of a disaster. The project is in the final stage of actually connecting all the different entities. The network is a private network, and there will be restrictions such as no IP voice over phone or Internet usage. The network will have the capacity to do video conferencing and sharing of electronic medical and financial information. The network has adopted the state standards and has been working closely with the state regarding a scheduling system compatible with education. Financing for the network comes from several sources: grant funds, the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, public health laboratories, and the individual hospitals. The FCC has been instrumental in subsidizing line costs utilizing the Universal Service Fund. There is a meeting scheduled tomorrow to discuss the remaining T1 lines and final choices for routers and firewalls. Some of the tasks currently underway include: collaborative efforts in the development of a scheduling system; development of a training program for rural hospital staff; and the development of evaluation tool. Mr. Glover commended the Public Service Commission for their efforts and assistance in establishing funds for the Telehealth Network. Ms. Byers thanked the council members who have also been involved with the network development. Mr. Glover entertained questions.

Ms. Hammack arrived.

APPROVAL OF AUGUST 16, 2004 MINUTES

Ms. Fitzgerald moved to approve the August 16, 2004 minutes as presented. Ms. Brandl seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Jordison-Yes, Belitz-Yes, Benson-Yes, Brandl-Yes, Fitzgerald-Yes, Hammack-Yes, Hedquist-Yes, Williams-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, and Hand-Yes. Results: 10-Yes, 0-No. Motion carried.

MEMBERSHIP

Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

New Members: The following persons were recommended to serve as new members on the council.

The Telehealth Subcommittee will be asked to nominate a member to represent telehealth at their meeting on February 22.

Ms. Fitzgerald moved to approve the slate of new members for final approval by the NITC. Mr. Hand seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Hand-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, Williams-Yes, Hedquist-Yes, Hammack-Yes, Fitzgerald-Yes, Brandle-Yes, Benson-Yes, Belitz-Yes, and Jordison-Yes. Results: 10-Yes, 0-No. Motion was carried.

Renewals: The following persons agreed to renew their membership the council:

  • K.C. Belitz, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Norene Fitzgerald, York County Development Corporation
  • Mary Wernke, Letter Perfect Communications
  • Georgia Masters Keightley, City of Crawford

Mr. Hand moved to approve the slate of renewal memberships for final approval by the NITC. Mr. Williams seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Hammack-Yes, Hedquist-Yes, Williams-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, Hand-Yes, Jordison-Yes, Belitz-Yes, Benson-Yes, Brandl-Yes, and Fitzgerald-Yes. Results: 10-Yes, 0-No. Motion carried.

E-COMMERCE COORDINATION UPDATE (PDF 417k)

Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

An inventory of e-commerce training programs, gap analysis and recommendations were developed by the Nebraska Rural Initiative, the Nebraska Rural Development Commission, and the Nebraska Information Technology Commission. The report indicated there was little information on Nebraska businesses with web sites. Nebraska businesses have not bought into the value of e-commerce. Discussion followed regarding possible avenues and resources for Nebraska business web site development. Per the inventory and gap analysis, recommendations for promoting e-commerce and expanding access to e-commerce training include:

  • Delivering and marketing the advanced e-commerce curriculum being developed by the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative and Cooperative Extension.
  • Developing case studies to illustrate the costs, benefits, and ROI of e-commerce for small Nebraska businesses.
  • Highlighting effective Web design and e-commerce practices by Nebraska small businesses through an e-commerce/Web design award program.
  • Examining the feasibility of a Bit Mobile (a mobile computer lab) to deliver training in Nebraska communities.

IT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

The most recent issue of the Tangents newsletter went out a couple of weeks ago. Articles and/or ideas for articles are needed for the next issue.

Within the next couple of months, the Community Council will need to decide whether to ask NITC for a continuation of this program and monies. After a discussion of possible future directions for the program, members recommended refocusing the program on e-commerce training.

NEW BUSINESS AND NEXT MEETING DATE

The NITC will meet on March 15th and then again on June 14th. Ms. Byers would like the Community Council to meet in May prior to the June NITC meeting. She will poll the members for their availability.

With no further business, Ms. Byers adjourned the meeting at 2:48 p.m.

Meeting minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Anne Byers of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission.

Meeting Minutes

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