Redesigned to increase ease of navigation and to create a more consistent look and feel, the new Web page will be available for public viewing on Oct. 17 and will be officially launched Nov. 1, according to county Office of Information Technology officials. During the public viewing period, users will be able to supply feedback to site administrators and designers on Web page usability and the overall look of the new design, said Masood Noorbakhsh, the county's chief information officer. The county's old site, which was recently named best county government Web page by the National Association of Counties, will remain up during this process and will be shut down for good Oct. 31.
"Although we provide the best electronic services than any local government can offer their citizens, we still believe there is room for improvement," Noorbakhsh said. "We believe no other government will offer what we will provide come Nov. 1."
During an Oct. 14 presentation to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, Noorbakhsh explained that his office's goal was to create a seamless site that took into account that most county residents are not experts on governmental offices and departments.
"We want to eliminate the need to know who does what," Noorbakhsh said. "We are trying to hide the government structure."
According to Noorbakhsh, the new site will enable users to maneuver through pages without having to skip from one department or office site to the next to find the needed information or services.
To ensure this, representatives from each county agency took part in the design process as part of a Web manager's working group.
The new Web page, like the current one, will still allow residents the opportunity to perform county transactions, such as pay taxes, purchase decals, register vehicles and apply for permits. However, the new site consolidates many of these "eGovernment" services onto one page for easier access.
Also, all department events and announcements will be kept on one online calendar for public viewing.
"The office and myself are continuously amazed and pleased with the information we can get in-house and in the office. I don't understand it, but I think you have done a tremendous job," Supervisor Ben Thompson (R-Brentsville) said after hearing Noorbakhsh's presentation.
Noorbakhsh responded, "Our vision is to do the best for our community."
Since the current county Web page was launched in 1998, the site's usage has increased 2,000 percent, according to Noorbakhsh.
Redesign costs for the new Web page came from the Office of Information Technology's $240,000 annual budget, Noorbakhsh said.
Once the new Web site is complete, it will be incorporated into the county's current address, http://www.pwcgov.org. Until then, residents can check out the new Web site at http://new.pwcgov.org, which will be available for viewing as of Monday, Oct. 20.
Quelle: The Gainsville Times
