by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
The City of Sartell now has a new streamlined, interactive web page that city officials hope will be easier for city residents to navigate.
The new webpage even has two Facebook Pages. One is for the City of Sartell, the other for the Sartell Police Department. Visitors to those Facebooks can submit comments, questions and suggestions. The Facebook sites also give city officials and the police a chance to communicate, in an almost off-the-cuff informal way, with the people they serve.
Sartell Planner and Developer Anita Rasmussen helped coordinate the new web site with its designers, “Think Creative,” based in St. Cloud, a company that is also a member of the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce. City staff members were also helpful in gathering and double-checking the accuracy of all the information. Photos of staff members make the web pages more personable – something the city council suggested, Rasmussen noted.
The redesign work began in January. Rasmussen said there will be some ongoing tweaking in the near future to make the site even better.
The Sartell Economic Development Commission was a big plus in helping with the new web site, Rasmussen noted, adding many user-friendly pages and links to help introduce Sartell to anyone or any company considering relocating to the area.
When website users type in www.sartellmn.com, they are greeted with the brightly colored Sartell city logo on the upper left. Below that is a slide-show, wide-screen panorama of scenic city sights: the Verso paper mill, the trickling Watab River in Watab Park, a man leisurely fishing in the river and a winter night scene of Sartell City Hall, runners in the annual Mayor’s Race and a colorful photo of three smiling children.
To the right of the Sartell City logo are various categories: Residents, Visitors, Business, Departments, I Want To … The latter category gives webpage visitors a convenient chance to click on what they want to know, such as Contact City Staff, Pay a Water Bill Online, Print a Map, Report a Concern or Complaint, Apply for a Board or Commission (or a city job or permit) and a large number of other options.
The Visitors section lists a Visitors’ Guide, Parks and Trails, Where to Stay, Where to Shop, Transportation, Facts and Questions and Area Attractions and Events.
Under Business are listed topics that include Economic Development, City Code, Building Inspections, Chamber of Commerce, E-Forms, Licensing and Permits, and Maps.
The Departments section lists and describes the various city departments and how to contact them, including a convenient way to email any city council member or the mayor.
An e-form download function allows any visitor to print out any city forms they may need. People can also submit forms and applications right on the Internet to the city or any of its departments.