January 27, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE AT www.decaturil.gov
DECATUR - The City of Decatur is pleased to announce the release of its new web site, one that we hope will be more user friendly while providing local residents and the rest of the virtual world with a direct portal into city government and the Decatur community at large.
The city’s new site can be found at www.decaturil.gov which replaces what was a lengthy and difficult-to-remember former address.
One of the most important additions to the site is a system which allows users to sign up to receive information directly from the city, information which will include news updates, an e-newsletter, press releases, information on city programs and other items designed to keep the public better informed. The site also features a customer service survey under the “City Surveys” button. We want to know about the public’s experience with its city government and both the current and future surveys will be used both to determine what we’re doing right and those areas where we might need to make some improvements in our service to the public.
Front page web features include news stories on various city programs and issues while the “Live, Work, Play, Learn” buttons at the top of the page provide visitors with links to local resources which can assist both local residents and people looking to visit or make Decatur their new home. The AccessDecatur section will be updated regularly with videos covering a wide range of topics related to the city. The “Neighborhoods Today” section will allow visitors to enter an address and find the name and contact info for their individual neighborhood group and a list of amenities found in their particular neighborhood (schools, parks, daycare, churches, etc.). This section will also feature information on city programs and services that can help local neighborhoods, among other things.
The City’s goal with the new site is for users to see government as an open door where they can get what they need when they need it. We also hope that residents will be willing to serve as a sounding board and source of information for the City as public input and participation will be important to helping us to go forward as a government.
New features will be added in the coming months which will engage the public while providing outlets for us to provide and gather information. Within weeks users will be able to sign up to receive Twitter updates and RSS feeds in addition to regular news and information.
“This is the first of many steps we are taking to improve our communications with the citizens of Decatur,” said Decatur City Manager Ryan McCrady. “I am especially excited about our Customer Service Survey that is available with this new website.
“It is the first achievement towards an improved Customer Service initiative for city government and I hope citizens utilize the survey to give us valuable feedback on how we are performing. I also hope that the site will give a positive impression to families and businesses that are considering relocating to Decatur.”
In recent months we have implemented a number of new communication channels including:
- ACCESSDecatur – Cable Television Channel 18, providing around-the-clock video and written information about City of Decatur news and events, programs, road closures and other city-related issues.
- Council Packet Video Summary – The city provides a video summary of each upcoming Decatur City Council meeting packet. Prior to each council meeting city staff prepares an information packet for the public and council providing an explanation of and supporting documentation for meeting agenda items. The packets, though necessary, can be voluminous and the video summaries are an attempt to make that information as accessible to the public as possible.
- Council meeting packet and video on website – The City Council packet is posted to the city’s website on the Friday prior to each meeting while meeting video is now available on the day following the meeting.
- City YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/accessdecatur) — The city will provide regular video updates to Youtube so that local and national viewers can access video about the community on their own schedule.
For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753 or btyus@decaturil.gov.