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Trustees debate upgrading township website software
A new website would give Prairie Township residents access to information they normally struggle to obtain, said Prairie Township administrator Tracy Hatmaker.
Township trustees and residents in attendance at the Sept. 5 meeting said they are reluctant to spend the money for new technology. An initial cost of $10,900 and annual upkeep estimated at $2,400 is required to install the E-Gov software. “A lot of things that people normally have to come to this meeting or come here during the day to find out, can be found online (with the new software),” Hatmaker said. Trustee vice chair Steve Kennedy said the township was not ready for such advancement and the change would not benefit some of the township’s older residents. “I’m not saying at some point we won’t need an interactive website, but I don’t think we’re there yet,” Kennedy said. “We do a lot of things to improve the township, but I keep in the back of my mind that these things should benefit the majority of the township, and I don’t know that this would do that.” Trustee chair Ron Ball requested more information about the software. A $25,000 upgrade was also proposed to revamp the township’s zoning software. Trustee Doug Stormont said the current system is not working and the money would be worth it. A photo of a white board where the township tracks nuisance cases was shown, demonstrating why the new system was needed. Kennedy opposed the change. He said the cost was too high and he was unsure the township’s computers could handle the new software. The issue was tabled for future discussion. Upcoming road improvements An open house on Sept. 5 began talks of improvements to the roadway, storm sewer and waterlines on Evergreen Terrace and Gladys Road. Similar to the Woodlawn Avenue improvements, the plan would widen and repave the two roads, and add sidewalks. Marry Sherrets, project manager for Stantec Inc., said the company wants residents to share what the roads need, including whether or not traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps are necessary. The improvements are estimated to begin in 2014.
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