|
Capital
Infrastructure Plan
The County maintains a wide variety of infrastructure,
including: buildings, bridges, dams,and other “big ticket”
items. We must inventory these infrastructures, estimating: their
life expectancy, cost [and frequency] of repairs, the ultimate replacement
cost, and the future functional need or obsolescence. These factors
must then be reduced to a capital plan for the future, stretching
out up to 50+ years.
Modernization
of Computers
The County’s computers are obsolete, in disrepair
and lack even minimal safeguards. As the former Chairman of the
IT Committee, we repeatedly warned the administration the IT Department
needed a complete overhaul which will cost $20+ million dollars.
Unfortunately, we were unable to get the administration to recognize
the problem.
What needs to
be done is already part of a plan prepared by an independent consultant
2 years ago. The County must immediately begin working with the
Countywide Elected Officials, and other stakeholders, to prepare
for implementation of that plan, including funding options.
The first step
must be to have an independent Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Counties one-tenth our size have independent CIO’s who make
informed, unbiased assessments of what is needed. Presently, the
County has a dysfunctional decision making process, and a computer
system waiting to crash.
Economic
Development
The County has many attributes to attract and retain
businesses. DuPage Biz can be good start in an effort to expand
our economic base. But instead of dictating, the County needs to
listen and work towards consensus. I will continue to work with
all our stakeholders to maintain an available, educated and reliable
work force; and to seek relationships with business, education and
government to provide an environment conducive to expanding businesses
in DuPage County.
|
