County Launches New Updated Webpage
Gratiot County has launched its new and improved webpage.
This is the third time the site has been revised since it was established in the late 1990s, County Information Technology Director Aaron Hubbard said.
Those who log on will find the updated webpage more user friendly, he added.
We’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time,” Hubbard explained. “Our (old) website was dated to say the least. It wouldn’t allow us to do what we wanted to do.”
Work began on revising the site last fall.
“It was quite a process,” Hubbard said.
It was designed and developed by Web Ascender of Okemos.
“We got a phenomenal deal,” Hubbard said. “It will end up costing between $4,800 and $5,000. The next lowest bid was $20,000.”
The new webpage, done in earth tone colors with photos, is much sleeker looking than the old site. There is also much more information available.
There are quick links to all county departments and courts on the home page, and a place for news, announcements and upcoming events.
There are also vital records, fee schedules for services offered by the various departments, GIS maps and other data available.
“The new layout is intended to make it easier for people to use the webpage and quickly find information and links that are most frequently used by online users,” Hubbard said. “Current initiatives and notable events are featured prominently on the front of the page, complete with graphics and pictures.”
Although making the site easier to use for the general public was the main reason for the upgrade, it also has other advantages.
“It now allows every department to log in and make changes and updates on their own page,” Hubbard said. “That will save a lot of time.”
For example, the parks and recreation department will be able to take reservations for picnic pavilions at Reed and Hubscher county parks, he explained. Hubbard called the site a “one-stop resource for citizens.”
“Whether it’s getting a marriage license, getting a building permit or learning about the county parks, our new website has it all,” he said.
There is also a place where citizens can provide feedback to government officials or department heads.
Eventually Hubbard plans to start incorporating social media sites like Facebook.
The site also has a new online address: gratiotmi.com, although the old one will work for a certain amount of time, he noted.
“I think this was a good move for the long term,” Hubbard said.
For the full article, see the Gratiot County Herald.