CyberMichigan Government Initiatives and Activities 2000

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVE: 2000-2001

This CyberMichigan commissioned report takes an in-depth look at Michigan’s Government and Community Building Initiatives. The report evaluates the state’s county, city and township web activities and provides a Top Ten ranking in each category. The testing methodology is based on the nationally recognized Website Analysis Evaluation System (WAES) developed by the Cyberspace Policy Research Group (opens in new window) and the University of Arizona.

In a review conducted for CyberMichigan, each governmental website was evaluated in 10 categories measuring the amount of data available through the site and how easy it was for visitors to access information through the site design. Ann Arbor researchers Terwilliger Associates used a nationally recognized system known as Website Attribute Evaluation System (WAE), to review sites. On a usability scale with a maximum score of 45 points, Washtenaw County's website scored the most usable for the second year, at 37 points. Other top marks went Delta Charter Township (34), City of Niles (34), Van Buren Charter Township (33), City of Alpena (32) and Eaton County (32).

In the second annual review of municipal, township and county websites, more Michigan's local units of government are embracing the emerging technology of the internet. Identified sites doubled since the last year. This report compares 2000 findings with those made in CyberMichigan’s initial 1999 Local Government & Community Building Report and offers conclusions.

2000 Fact Sheet - Highlighted elements from the WAES testing conducted September, 2000.

Top Ten Local Government Websites Rated and Reviewed. Also includes a chart of notable website features.

All of Michigan's Local Governments Online This is a list organized by county and reflects the government units with websites at the time of this report (2000-2001).