Florida Cities to Share OS/400 Resources Through 'Interlocal' Agreements

Published: August 8, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Although there has yet to be a single hurricane in the Atlantic this season, three Florida cities at different ends of the state are hoping to band together in a formal pact to back up each other and provide access to OS/400 resources, if a killer storm does arrive.

Under the tentative agreement, the cities of Naples, Panama City, and Port Orange will pledge to make their computer systems, payroll, public works, and utilities services available to each other in the event of a disaster, according to a story in the Naples News. The Port Orange City Council is expected to vote on the agreement next week.

An official with Port Orange said the fact that the three municipalities each use OS/400 servers and can print each other's payroll checks was a key factor in creating the pact. Common emergency radio systems were also a factor.

This isn't the first time that Florida cities have banded together and offered their resources to other cities. Sunshine State cities have been offering aid to hurricane-effected areas of the state for more than 15 years. Last year's devastating hurricanes gave several municipalities and school districts in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas the chance to help out one another.

However, the pact among Naples, Panama City, and Port Orange marks the beginning of the establishment of formal coalitions, called "interlocal" agreements. The Florida League of Cities encourages municipalities to establish such agreements with other municipalities of similar size and technological make-up.

At least one of the three cities--Naples--uses software from SunGard HTE, the Lake Mary, Florida, developer of OS/400 and Windows software for municipalities, police departments, and utilities. In 2003, HTE was purchased by SunGard, one of the largest providers of disaster recovery and hot site services.