Henry County explores website overhaul

MT. PLEASANT — Supervisor Steve Detrick proposed a full redesign of the Henry County website citing outdated content and a lack of usability as major issues.

"My goal here is to give us a more interactive web page that allows us to be able to update it … and also hopefully get more current information," Detrick said.

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During the March 27 Board of Supervisors meeting, he emphasized the need for a platform that helps residents better access timely and accurate details about county services. He also criticized the current site for hosting redundant content and lacking interactive features.

"A lot of what we see today is redundant on this web page," he said. "Dust control, for example, is already in road work … [an overhaul] gets rid of that redundancy and allows us to put more relevant information up front."

Among the proposed changes, Detrick suggested replacing the office directory on the homepage with an interactive calendar. This calendar would display meetings from all departments and include links to department-specific pages.

"Every meeting that happens within any of the departments within the county would appear on that calendar … then that'll be a hyperlink," Detrick said.

He also recommended removing the current dust control section and replacing it with tax-related content.

"You can hyperlink to the treasurer's website and be able to get better access to what, when and where," Detrick said.

He added that school board information would also be added in considering the important upcoming topics such as a potential levy coming up in November.

To improve the website's appearance, Detrick proposed featuring dynamic departmental photos instead of a static image of the courthouse. He noted that he has already spoken with IT Director Derek Wellington about the feasibility of the technical updates.

"He said it's pretty easy to do, but obviously we just needed to work together to make sure that we're all in agreement," Detrick said.

Detrick is hopeful that the new site may eventually include audio and video content, specifically videos of Board of Supervisor meetings.

“That will tie into this,” he said. “Hopefully getting some audio video on there as well, because that would be tied, most likely to the Board of Supervisors in the short term.”

Supervisor Chad White supported the initiative saying he felt, “Everybody's a general consensus that our website's not real user friendly and could be improved on.”

During public comments, Winfield resident Lynn Humphreys expressed appreciation for the proposal.

“I just want to say, I appreciate you looking at the website, because I think that is fundamental to recruitment into the area, recruitment for employment, all those things,” she said.

Detrick encouraged residents to share suggestions.

“If you folks have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to let me know or get with me. Send me an email wherever the case may be,” Detrick said.

“So, I'll continue to work on that, and hopefully we'll have something in the near term ongoing,” he added.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com