TITUSVILLE -- The Y2K bug seems like history now, but its ramifications are still felt at the Titusville police station more than 21/2 years after the new millennium began.

The computer bug that hit on Jan. 1, 2000 knocked out the police building's 15-year-old electronic key card system. So employees use metal keys to get in, and the receptionist issues passes to visitors and buzzes them through the locked door.

That should change soon.

The department has requested bids for upgrades to outdated and non-functioning parts in the building's security system. Bids are due by July 31.

"After 9/11, we realized our security system is not what it needs to be," said Cmdr. Jim McInnis.

In addition to the electronic key system, plans include adding automated gates to the parking area and installing more and updated security cameras to provide full views of the building perimeter and of the doors.

In the event of an escape or other illegal activity, there will be recorders to show a time-line and technology that digitally enhances videos to more clearly show suspects.

"We will be able to program who does and does not have access," McInnis said. "The system will record through access cards who is in the building, which we will be able to check against videos," he said.

This could prove especially useful during evacuations and other emergencies, when the police building becomes the city's emergency operations center, he said.

The expected $118,000 cost is coming out of money the police department budgeted for hurricane shutters. The money was not needed after a Federal Emergency Management Grant covered 70 percent of the shutters' cost.

The money is not part of the $6.9 million raised through a five-year, 1.4 mill tax that voters approved to raise money to improve police and fire facilities, said Robert Erickson, city finance director.

That tax, which expired in the 2001-2002 tax year, paid for the police building and for new, replaced and upgraded fire stations.

Approximately $491,307 remains in referendum money for additional projects, Erickson said.

Florida Today

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2002