City upgrades Web site, employee Internet service

The city of Cape Girardeau has completed a system-wide changeover to provide Internet access to city employees through the city's internal network, an upgrade that also has made the city's Web page easier to find and use, city officials say.

The first change is a new address for the city's Web site, said assistant city manager Walter Denton, also the city's Webmaster. The new Web site is at www.cityofcape girardeau.org. The site will look exactly as it did before, Denton said.

"But it's a lot easier to remember than our old address," Denton said.

Denton said the site already gets about 500 visitors a week, which he thinks is pretty good considering it's a city government Web site.

The site already provides information on the city's 14 departments, including the city manager's office, he said. The agenda is posted before every city council meeting and minutes are posted following each meeting, he said.

Forms online

Upcoming events for the Parks and Recreation Department are posted as well as times the city offices are closed for holidays and trash and leaf pickup schedules. There are also forms such as business license applications that can be printed off, completed and returned to city hall, saving city residents a trip.

Other forms include applications for liquor licenses and hotel/motel tax forms, he said. But these forms require signatures, so they cannot be filled out online, he said.

"The Web site is targeted toward Cape Girardeau citizens who are looking for information about the city," he said. "It's well used."

The change means there are now interactive online feedback forms for all city departments. Before, there was one comment form and Denton had to forward kudos and complaints. Now they go directly to those departments.

Before, the Web site was hosted on the Show Me Net server, a non-profit Internet provider service.

Amy Roth, recreation coordinator at the Osage Center, said the Internet has helped draw athletes from as far as Kentucky to compete in local triathlons.

"It's generated some interest, but it could be used more," she said.

Public works director Doug Leslie said he uses the Internet as a tool to let city customers know about changes.

"It's a good method to get information out to the public," Leslie said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137