Upgrade to Cole County website due in late February

Cole County Commissioners learned Tuesday the upgrades to the county's website should be ready for the public to use by the end of February.

The commission hired Civic Plus in August to do the project. The money to pay for the project will come from the county's capital improvement sales tax funds.

At Tuesday's commission meeting, Cole County GIS Manager Melissa Johnson said they are looking for photos that could be used on the website. The photos could include landscapes, cityscapes, nature, art and animals. If residents have photos they'd like to submit, email the images to [email protected] by Oct. 7.

The new website could have features such as an interactive calendar for county events and the capability for paying fees. Departments and elected officials would be responsible for the content.

The up-front cost is $39,000 with $5,850 for yearly maintenance afterward.

The company also will make an app for residents to access the site from their iPhones. The initial cost to the county will be $5,000 plus $1,500 a year for maintenance.