Bloomfield Hills to get Web site

 

By Angela Fichera

C & G Staff Writer

     BLOOMFIELD HILLS — The city of Bloomfield Hills is embracing technology in the process of creating a Web site for the city and residents.

     “The commission and myself are very excited about this project,” said Bloomfield Hills City Manager Chris Bremer. “It will be a great help to us here at City Hall due to the fact that we are a very small staff.  We are hoping that once the Web site is up, we can direct people with questions to it, saving a lot of time,” she said.

     According to Bremer, the Web site will include maps of the city, applications, voting information, Building Department information, the majority of the city’s ordinances, emergency numbers, due dates for city bills, and information regarding leisure activities.

     “We are trying to make it somewhat timeless,” said Bremer.

     Tech Resources is the company the city has chosen to create the site, and Bremer said they will train city employees to keep it up. The City Commission unanimously approved the creation of the Web site at the Feb. 10 City Commission meeting.

     Bremer said she, city employees and the Head for the Hills packets, which are given out to new residents, currently relay to residents the majority of the information that will be included on the Web site.

     “The packets include all of the necessary information, but they are expensive,” said Bremer. “We go through about 100 every six months, so hopefully the Web site will help decrease the number of those being sent out,” she added.

     City Commission member Dale Dawkins is excited about the Web site as well and said it will be an asset to the city.

     “It puts us into the 21st century, so to speak,” said Dawkins. “One of the great things about it is that it will give our residents seven-day-a-week, 24-hour-a-day access to information about our city,” he said.    

     The Web site will also have links to prominent businesses and destinations in the city.

     “We hope to have links to the Bloomfield Hills Historical Society, the Oakland County Treasurer’s Office and Cranbrook, to name a few,” said Bremer. “We would be proud to include that information,” she said.

     Cranbrook Director of Public Relations and Marketing Steve Hoffman said Cranbrook appreciates the collaborative relationship between the city and itself.

     “This is a project that has taken some time, and they’ve (Bloomfield Hills) tackled it and have done a nice job,” said Hoffman. “This is especially good timing seeing as it is Cranbrook’s centennial year, so we are looking forward to being on the city’s site,” he said.

     The Web site cost was $5,000 and Bremer said that the city made a budget amendment since it was not included in the budget. She also said there was money available in the city’s computer fund to support the project.

     Bremer expects the Web site to be up and available for the public’s use by July 1.          

     You can reach Angela Fichera at afichera@candgnews.com