By Brian Anderson
Arizona Republic

Jan. 23, 1999

FOUNTAIN HILLS — While technicians toiled and pessimists postulated last year over the possibility of a computer-led apocalypse, Peter Putterman chuckled at what President Clinton called the headache of the 20th century.

The clock is ticking as programmers try and try again to exterminate the so-called Year 2000 computer bug. Still, Peter Putterman laughed at the thought of demise.

"I'm real assured we're in good shape," said Putterman, director of a Fountain Hills task force on the Y2K problem. "But that doesn't mean we can sit back and do nothing."

Early knowledge of the impending problem two years ago, Putterman said, allowed town officials to take two steps forward without fear of eventually taking another step back.

When computers needed replacement, Y2K-proof equipment was bought. When upgrades were essential, protected software was installed. When the problem outsized the task force, a consultant was brought in.

If repairs and upgrades continue as scheduled, Fountain Hills should be clear of Y2K by early to midsummer, Putterman said. Even with added hang-ups, his mission will wrap up in September with several months to spare.

"If you look at the absolute worst case, if every computer needed to be replaced, I'd be buying 65 computers," he said. "If every streetlight in town was going to drop dead and not work, well, that's six streetlights. It's real easy for us."

Stumbled upon several years ago, the Y2K monster was actually created in the 1960s by pioneer computer programmers. Rather than consume then-valuable space for dates, years were denoted using only the last two digits.

The technique wasn't a problem until experts realized electronics as sophisticated as military defense systems and as diminutive as automatic coffee makers couldn't understand the double zero in the year 2000.

Fountain Hills Mayor Sharon Morgan is confident the town will work out the bug. But if for some reason the glitch kills their computers, she said, serious consequences are nearly impossible.

"Mobilizing the National Guard, I don't foresee any of that kind of stuff," Morgan said, adding the cost of the project hasn't been hammered out. "At this point, I have no doubt (about fixing the problem). But this is January and I'm not sure what he (Putterman) will uncover."