The county's Web site is not one of them.
But that is changing, through a grant of up to $25,000 from the e-NC Authority. County Economic Developer Jayne Robb, who is the point person on the project, said the goal is to have a functional, user-friendly site up and running before Christmas.
"We are working hard with department heads so that when the Web site is set up and running, it will provide a benefit for the citizens of the county for information and as a resource," she said. "It will be interactive and give links that give information."
Robb said the issue was not so much the look of the site, as it was its functionality. The current site's opening page has a montage of scenic photographs from around the county.
But, the site -- www.co.pamlico.nc.us -- is limited in its information, much of which is outdated. For instance, anyone seeking contacts with the county administration would find names of many department heads who have not worked for the county for years.
"Our current Web site was created through the efforts of volunteers and has never been truly developed as a functioning Web site," she said.
Robb said the county Web address would likely be changed to one that would be easy for users to remember.
She said the new site would include all the county departments and provide users with information and updates to areas such as register of deeds, GIS mapping, tax parcel data and commissioner agendas and meeting minutes.
She noted that with an improved site, citizens would be able to access programs and opportunities ranging from recreation activities to post-hurricane information.
More links to other agencies and organizations are also planned.
The county does not employee an Internet technician, but rather relies on the expertise of in-house employees such as tax supervisor Tim Buck and Donnie Rooks of the Department of Social Services.
Robb said a review system would be in place before updates and major changes are made on the Web site.
She said design of templates is under way in-house and that a vendor would be chosen for the actual Web design. She estimated the cost for a vendor to host and maintain the site would be about $100 monthly.
She told commissioners at a recent meeting that with continuing changes in technology, the county would likely need to look at its computer system at some point. Currently, the 130-plus employees are on a variety of independent work stations -- many connected to the Internet by dial-up modem and a few departments with high-speed access.
The Pamlico grant is part of a $1.5 million program of e-NC Authority through its Local E-Government Utilization Program, or LEG-UP. Through that program, the authority works to advance technology infrastructure, training and use by local governments in 55 rural counties and towns in the state.
Autor: Charlie Hall
Quelle: New Bern Sun Journal, 06.07.2004
