News

City redesigns its 4-year-old Web site

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 10:40 AM EST

The ability to provide prompt customer service is important to municipalities, which is why the City of Dowagiac revamped its Internet Web site into the fresh and innovative tool that went "live" last week.

While the original Web site was developed four years ago, as technology advanced and other Web sites became more savvy, it was soon clear to city officials that a major overhaul of the site was not only needed, it was required to better serve the public.

People no longer need to spend valuable time surfing the Web site at www.cityofdowagiac.com.

The site was updated to be as user-friendly as today's technology allows, as a wealth of information is a mere click away.

Building contractors, for instance, can now obtain electrical or mechanical permits from "Download Central."

Just as easily, a resident who disagrees with the assessed value of his property can click on a button that provides information as to how his assessment can be re-evaluated.

Who better to redesign the city's Web site than Dowagiac native, Alan Fricke,

owner of Image Maker Design LLC, who along with his partner, Joseph Vitanza,

in 2003 helped to design the website for the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of

Commerce? Not only a native of Dowagiac, Fricke is a major investor in the

central business district, who owns three prime Front Street storefronts,

two of which are presently undergoing complete facade renovations.

"When city officials and other people looked at the Chamber of Commerce

website, they were very impressed with its content, and the flow and ease of

maneuvering through the data," Fricke said. "As a result, they began

drawing a comparison as to how the city's website could be modified to

better serve the public."

"Following several months of reconstruction, the new city website provides a

much more user-friendly site for our residents and other people interested

in Dowagiac," agrees City Manager William H. Nelson Jr. "It includes a

number of forms and applications that can be downloaded for submission,

including employment applications, along with copies of City Council agendas

and meeting minutes. In addition to being much more useful, the site is

also more attractive in its presentation, design and layout as compared to

our earlier website."

"Our goal was to make it more user friendly," Fricke said, which was

accomplished by providing several topic buttons on the home page that takes

the person directly to the information they need, rather than having to surf

the entire website. "This is a very innovative process, which also provides

for a consistent design, page layout and appearance."

"Visually, not only are the design colors warmer and richer, we also tried

to give the city's website the same look and feel as the Chamber's site,

which enables people to feel very comfortable, visually, as they maneuver

back and forth between the two sites. Rather than overlapping information

between the city and chamber sites, the public will find that we've

established several links between the websites for information on the

organization, the downtown, area businesses, festivals and more. As such,

like the two organizations, even their websites are today very compatible."

The process to overhaul the city website began last summer as Jackie Evans,

the city manager's administrative secretary, helped to streamline

departmental information that was provided to Image Maker Design LLC.

Fricke termed the overhaul a major project, which resulted in 74 static

pages, 37 downloadable forms, and 152 administration pages that fuel the 27 pages that require and can be easily updated by city staff.

The website's home page provides a personal welcome to the community by

Mayor Lyons, as the public sculpture, Dance of Creation, and a colorful

splash of dogwood blossoms provide the visual art.

For residents, there's information on Dowagiac schools, the district

library, a city directory and utility bill information. An entire section

is devoted to answers for the most frequently asked questions, from

registering to vote to requesting a special patrol of one's property when

you're out-of-town.

Like its name, "Download Central" provides permits for plumbers,

electricians and building contractors that can be easily downloaded and

submitted to the city. Today, residents can even obtain a homestead

application over the Internet.

For business owners, there's information on the downtown, the M-51

commercial center and the industrial park; the City's economic development

office; a site availability list; and business incentives such as PA 198

Property Tax Abatements, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the

Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act.

People will find an entire section on utility bills, which explains when

their payment is due, payment options and, most importantly, what to do if

they can't pay their bill.

The latest news coming out of City Hall is now available on line, as

residents can obtain a copy of the city manager's weekly report, which is

issued to staff and the media on Fridays. A calendar provides easy access

to such dates as when the Department of Public Services provides curbside

pick up of discarded Christmas trees to meeting dates for City Council.

Although the website has been revamped, as technology advances, Image Maker Design LLC and city officials will continue to monitor the website for new ways to make it innovative and fresh.

"As before, the website showcases our beautiful community and Dowagiac

businesses to tourists, residents and newcomers," Fricke said. "The new

website also provides a very strong and positive statement about the city.

The two sites for the City of Dowagiac and for the Chamber of Commerce work very well together to accomplish what both organizations desired."

As an investor in the community's central business district, Fricke can

attest to the positive reaction of newcomers to The Grand Old City. "One of

the first things contractors, who have worked on my buildings have said, is

how beautiful our central business district is and how unusual it is to see

a community that takes this amount of pride in its downtown. Those who are

familiar with Dowagiac, realize how much positive change has and continues

to take place."

"People who visit Dowagiac appreciate not only its appearance, they enjoy

how the community feels to them," Fricke said. As such, he added, anything

that the new website can do to reinforce this positive image will also have

an important impact on the many businesses that are located here.

"This site is a valuable resource for local residents, businesses, visitors

and new businesses," said Fricke, who is a former business executive,

marketing director and commercial photographer. His partner, Vitanza, holds degrees in computer information systems, instructional technology and

specializes in computer and web programming, and database development.

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