Friday, Jul 17 2009, 10:17 pm
By Susan Meeker/Staff Writer
Google Colusa County and what do you get?
According to the Colusa County grand jury, a simple Internet search should lead to an integrated Web site that provides access to departmental information, staff contacts, job listings and more.
Colusa County is "most likely" the only county in California without a single Web portal providing easy access to services and information, the grand jury said in its annual report released June 30.
"Without a county web portal or main web site, all of the departmental individual sites are listed under differing domains and names, some of which would be very difficult to find by the public," the report states.
The previous grand jury had a similar complaint in 2008 and urged the county to make an integrated Web site its priority — not only for outreach to the public, but for interdepartmental communication. County officials responded then that a useful Web site would be in place by the end of the fiscal year.
The 2008-2009 grand jury reported "insufficient progress" toward completing the project.
"The lack of a comprehensive integrated governmental Web site is a disservice to the citizens of Colusa County, to present employees and recruitment of future employees," the grand jury concluded. "A county that has insufficient Web services is a county that cannot attract investment and industry."
Changing priorities
Colusa County Supervisor Tom Indrieri said Wednesday that some of last year's priorities, including the completion of a fully integrated Web site, fell to the wayside during one of the worst financial crisis to hit the county in more than 20 years.
"Our priorities have changed, I'm not ashamed to say," Indrieri said. "Right now we're trying to save jobs and stay solvent."
The grand jury would like it to stay a priority, however. "Supervisor Indrieri should be relieved of this responsibility," its report says, and delegated to a consultant or information technology specialist.
The county's rudimentary Web site, which was developed by DataMindXP, a Colusa consultant, can be found at www.countyofcolusa.com. It has links to departments with previously established Web sites, but little other information available. The grand jury criticized the county's use of promotional literature that features the non-functional Web address.
The grand jury also found fault with the .com domain name. The county should have used a governmental domain name instead, the report states.
A simple Google search for "Colusa County" does not list the county's Web site until the sixth page of results. On the first page are links to Web sites for the county clerk, court system, Chamber of Commerce, education office, fair — and the Sun-Herald.
Indrieri said the county is presently working with the consultant to construct a functional site that will provide better information to the public. There is no estimated date for completion.
ALL OVER THE ONLINE MAP
Colusa County: www.colusacounty.com
(under construction)
Public Works: www.ccdpw.com
Sheriff’s Office: www.colusasheriff.com.
District Attorney: www.colusada.net
Library: www.colusanet.com/ccl
Clerk-Recorder: www.colusacountyclerk.com
Office of Education: www.ccoe.net
Health Services: colusadhhs.org
Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.
http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/news/county-3212-web-grand.html
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