By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Ransomware attacks on cities are becoming common.
Hackers use malware to invade city computers. They block the city’s access to its own files. The city is forced to pay for the recovery of those files.
The subject of ransomware was raised Tuesday night at the Williston City Council meeting when Councilman Charles Goodman asked how well Williston is protected from the attacks.
Williston is insured against such attacks and its files are backed up every 15 minutes off site, which offers a measure of protection, according to City Manager Scott Lippmann.
“Our IT (information technology) has said we’re not vulnerable from that perspective,” Lippmann said.
Lippmann and the council were advised by City Attorney Fred Koberlein to consult with a cybersecurity firm to test its security and ensure the protection is excellent.
Koberlein said a client his company represented was recently hit by a ransomware attack.
He said if Williston was attacked, the city’s files would be held for ransom, citizens wouldn’t be able to pay their bills and the city couldn’t make payroll for several weeks.
“They’ll rot in hell before I pay ransom,” Goodman said.
The council took no official action on the matter.
Council President Nancy Wininger attended a recent Florida League of Cities conference where cyberattacks were discussed. She said a common method for gaining access to a computer network is by opening what appears to be an innocent email. The second method is by giving away passwords.
Lippmann said the cyber scammers are clever.
“The people who are trying to scam you are extremely good at making things look real and making a good case,” he said.
She said the League of Cities offers cities access to technical advice on cyber security, but speakers at the conference advised that there is no such thing as 100 percent protection from cyberattacks.
Interim Clerk Status
Interim Clerk Latricia Wright can’t be officially hired by Lippmann until background checks are completed on her. The background checks are in progress.
The city conducts extensive background checks on all employees. The clerk’s position is especially sensitive.
Wright has agreed to accept the position if it is officially offered to her by Lippmann.
The city hasn’t begun the search for Wright’s replacement. The city is awaiting the results of her background checks.
She previously served as an assistant to former Clerk Fran Taylor. Her job also involved assisting the city manager plus other duties.
Veterans Memorial
The city’s attractive Veterans Memorial isn’t finished. A pile of bricks has been stacked on site for some time.
Lippmann said he would see to it that the stack of bricks is moved to a site away from the memorial.
City Utilities Director C.J. Zimoski said Heritage Park will be finished before the upcoming Peanut Festival.
The memorial is located in Heritage Park.
Zimoski said Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Chairman Dr. Ken Schweibert is inscribing commemorative bricks with the names of veterans being honored by their families. He said Schweibert can do 10 bricks at a time.
Schweibert wants the bricks done correctly, so he is doing the work himself. He is a skilled craftsman. The Veterans Memorial is a project of the CRA.
There are reportedly 600 commemorative bricks being laid at the memorial.
Veterans Day is Nov. 11.
Police Body Cameras
Council members voted to accept two Justice Department assistance grants of $15,375 and $25,125 for the purchase of police department body cameras.
Retiring Deputy Chief Clay Connolly presented the grant request. Body cameras record the actions of a police officer carrying out daily duties.
Deputy Police Chief Clay Connolly is using his phone to click off the hours, minutes, and seconds until his upcoming retirement. He’s using humor to celebrate his final days in office.
The good-natured Connolly carries a cell phone that ticks off the days, hours, minutes and seconds until his official retirement. The digital countdown adds a touch of humor as he waits for his final day on the job.
Approving Tourism Office Lease
Council members approved leasing their city annex building to the Levy County tourism office for $12 annually.
County Tourism Director and Grants Coordinator Tisha Whitehurst negotiated the lease. She said the city annex will offer considerably more office space than is currently available at her office behind Mosquito Control in Bronson.
Levy County Tourism Director Tisha Whitehurst has secured a $12 per year lease on the city annex building in Williston as her new digs. She will have more office space. The Levy County Commission and Williston City Council approved the lease Tuesday.
The city will continue to store old filing cabinets in one of the offices at the annex for the next month or two until Lippmann can find a new place to store them.
Williston’s City Annex was formerly the home of the Greater Williston Area Chamber of Commerce and a local newspaper. It is located near the Williston branch of the Tax Collector’s office and Regional General Hospital.
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City of Williston Regular Meeting August 20, 2019; Posted August 20, 2019
