State Seeks Comments and will hold meetings on Site Location of the Enterprise Systems Services Center to be built in Eastern Montana

The Information Technology Services Division of the Montana Department of Administration (the Department) will hold public meetings in Billings, Forsyth and Miles City to solicit public comment regarding the location of the Enterprise Systems Services Center to be built in Eastern Montana.

The proposed Eastern Montana Enterprise Systems Services Center (ESSC) is a facility authorized by the Montana Legislature to provide an alternative storage and operations center for the State of Montana’s primary ESSC located in Helena. An alternative storage and operations site is necessary to store and safeguard information, to provide state government with redundant information services facilities, and to provide the Helena ESSC with additional operational capacity.

The Department will compare the proposed sites in six categories. They are real property, security, infrastructure, capital cost, recurring costs (including telecommunications) and economic development benefits to each community.

The public meetings will be held at the following locations on these dates and times. A brief overview of the ESSC building project will be provided at each meeting.

In Forsyth, on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 in the Huago Center (also known as the Riverview Villa Office), 475 Rosebud St., Forsyth. The public meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will end at 7:00 p.m.

In Miles City, on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, in Room 106 Miles City Community College, 275 Dickinson, Miles City. The public meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will end at 7:00 p.m.

In Billings, on Thursday, January 10, 2008, in the Yellowstone Room (First Floor) Granite Building, 222 N. 32nd Street, Billings. The public meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will end at 7:00 p.m.

If you require assistance or accommodation for a disability, please call (406) 444-2926 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled meeting.

You may also provide written comment by mailing your comments to ESSC Site Comments, DoA/Information Technology Services Division, P.O. Box 200113, Helena, MT, 59620, or by emailing your comments to [email protected]. Written comments must be received or postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2008. If you are unable to attend a public meeting or to provide written comments, you may express your views by calling the Department at (406) 444-0682 by the above time and date to record your comments.