Hazel Park launches new Web site

 

By Audra Quinn

C & G Staff Writer

     The city of Hazel Park has officially launched its new Web site, which has been up and running since April 16, and is fully functional as of May 10.

     “It needed revamping,” said Linda Williams, management and economic development assistant. “Our biggest complaint of the old site was that it wasn’t user friendly. This site is much more user friendly; residents can now look up current information, they can also download important forms that we didn’t have before,” she said.

     Williams will also be on the receiving end of a new complaint form that residents can fill out and submit by e-mail. “It will go to the appropriate staff within the week and they will receive a reply by e-mail, phone, or letter,” she said.

     With the city of Hazel Park in the middle of a budget crisis, there was not a great deal of funding available for the new Web site, but Williams assures, “we got a great deal.”

     Plum Street is the granter of that great deal, a Web design company that specializes in community Web services. They have done work for many schools, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities that couldn’t otherwise afford it.

     “Our pricing is different,” said Dan Keelan, Plum Street partner and head of business strategy. “If someone calls me and says, ‘We need a Web site, here’s our budget,’ I can probably make it happen.”

     Keelan said that the Hazel Park Web site is the latest installment in a series of sites that Plum Street has done in the area, including the 43rd District Court.

     “We deal with these community organizations that don’t have much money, so there’s a little bit of giving back. We like to do that kind of work,” he said.

     Keelan highlighted several of the new features of the Web site. The first measure of convenience for residents is the opportunity to download and print several important forms and applications, 11 alone from the Building Department.

     “We’re thinking of it as functioning like a virtual city hall,” said Keelan.

     The site also offers a full directory of all departments and departmental contacts, including phone numbers and links to several staff e-mails. A city calendar is also new to the site, which will feature an updated and complete list of meetings and events of interest.

     The site also contains a limited business directory. Williams is excited about the site as a means of attracting new businesses. “There’s information about the city, so anyone who wants to expand or start up a business here, now they can get that information, along with who to contact and the actual procedure, all online,” she said.

     The information includes a community profile compiled by the census bureau, the history of Hazel Park, attractions, events, and restaurants, as well as links to local and national media outlets.

     The site also contains a page dedicated to the Department of Public Works, which includes trash pickup, recycling, and water and sewage information. There is also an updated list of the current members of all boards and commissions, as well as a directory of local churches and service organizations.

     “The nice thing is, it’s always open. It’s a 24-7 kind of thing; you can log on at four in the morning if you want to,” Keelan said.

     Plum Street will continue to work with the city to continue to improve and update the site. “For example, we’ll be starting work on the police section, looking into an auction functionality, most wanted list, and info on how to supply the police with emergency information,” Keelan said.

     City Manager Ed Klobucher is also excited about the site and its future, committing to keep improving its content and interactivity. “Because so many people are online now, when they want information about something, the first thing they do is hop on the computer and log onto the World Wide Web,” he said. “If the city doesn’t have an adequate Web site, we won’t be able to properly serve our residents.”

     You can reach Audra Quinn at aquinn@candgnews.com