Committee plans new website for city of Gentry

— Mayor Kevin Johnston and members of the Gentry Council’s Economic Development Committee met Thursday morning to discuss development of a website for the city which would include not only basic city information but pages for city departments and links to other city sites in order to promote the city and provide residents with needed information on city services, regulations, activities and events.

A goal of the committee was to develop a comprehensive website which would update and replace the existingsite and which could be maintained by city employees. A grant has been obtained to pay for the initial expense of creating the site and training employees to maintain it.

Committee members have been considering offers from two web developers to build and maintain a city website but are still studying options so that grant money is used in the most advantageous way for the city.

Also discussed at the meeting were updating cemetery logs and including them on the site and creating an online version of city code for the site.

Randy Moll, editor of the Westside Eagle Observer, explained the work entailed in some of the line items on a bid offer and shared some suggestions to help the city get the most for itsdollar.

The committee plans to further consider the city’s needs and options and to meet again before making a recommendation to the full council.

News, Pages 3 on 03/21/2012