MICHIGAN COUNTIES
|
County Name
|
2004 WAES Score
|
Review/Notable Features
|
Jackson
http://www.co.jackson.mi.us/
|
41
|
Jackson County website’s clear and concise global and local navigation provides a wide regulations and Mission/Vision information for their users. Additionally, each department and person has been made quite accessible given the complete listing of personnel with contact information, including e-mail, and supplies relevant information for services and ordinances.
|
Washtenaw
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/
|
37
|
Washtenaw County’s website is a well laid out, extremely comprehensive and easy to use. Its content is organized by function, service, and end-user perspective boosts efficiency for finding information. The Washtenaw County website also provides many online services for its constituents.
|
Clinton
http://www.clinton-county.org/
|
37
|
Clinton County website provides clearly design given the slightly small text in the drop-down main menus. The site also has a well defined site-index and sub menu navigation system. The “Highlights” menu on the homepage keeps its constituents up to date on ordinance and planning changes as well as their new Delinquent Tax Lookup feature and more.
|
Kalamazoo
http://www.kalcounty.com/
|
37
|
Kalamazoo County keeps expanding the level of access for its citizens. They now link to all of Kalamazoo County townships and cities and villages who are online along with other community, demographic, statewide and national links. Kalamazoo also contains a community calendar section with four drop down menus depending on category beside detailed information about its departments and services.
|
Marquette
http://www.co.marquette.mi.us/
|
37
|
Marquette County continually surveys its citizens' participation through their "customer satisfaction survey." Dedicated to providing relevant information to their constituents this website allows citizens to communicate their expectations and needs in order to customize their website and services overall. This website also solicits user feedback through a website feedback form.
|
Kent
http://www.co.kent.mi.us/
|
36
|
Kent County's Web site, accessKent, is definitely a well-organized and effective eGovernment Solution. Their online services are extensive ranging from ordering vital statistics, obtaining licenses and accessing detailed Park/Recreation information. This is in addition to their departmental, human services and cultural main menus.
|
Livingston
http://www.co.livingston.mi.us/
|
36
|
Livingston County’s website information is accessible through the main navigation menus and additionally their “select a link” pull-down menu realizing that visitors browse Internet sites in various ways. They also incorporate announcements into their homepage, which gives their visitors the timely news about important community happenings.
|
Oakland
http://www.co.oakland.mi.us
|
36
|
Oakland County's e-governance capabilities are some of the most progressive in Michigan. They offer a wide variety of eCommerce services, GIS software, online permits/application and much more. The combination of information and access to services that Oakland county provides is very well laid out in a navigation systems that is clear and understandable and also browsable by the type of visitor you are – citizen, business, education or government oriented.
|
Bay
http://www.co.bay.mi.us/
|
35
|
Bay County’s website allows visitors to see the myriad of services and information by displaying their websites links via drop-down menus. Any visitor can quickly peruse a large list of options right off the main page or choose to search the website as well. Additionally, the county’s vision and mission statement are right up front along with their popular links displayed via small easily downloadable graphics
|
Calhoun
http://www.calhoun-mi.com
|
35
|
Calhoun County has a thoughtfully organized site catering to the type of visitor you are. They are also one of the few websites in Michigan that passes the Section 508 compatibility regulations mandated for federal level government sites. This county also truly acts as a conduit for other federal, statewide and other local government websites.
|
Macomb
http://www.co.macomb.mi.us/
|
35
|
Macomb County lets their visitors know they are involved stating when the last update to the website occurred, which is of course recent. This uncluttered website still contains a variety of government duty and regulation info as well as important community events, public interest and health information.
|
MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS
|
Township Name
|
2004 WAES Score
|
Review/Notable Features
|
Bloomfield Charter
(Oakland Co)
http://www.bloomfieldtwp.org/
|
37.8
|
Bloomfield Township opens its sophisticated and professionally designed website with a scrolling “What’s New” menu. This website contains numerous links to request information or get yourself on a mailing list along with their all-encompassing local government and community sections.
|
Clinton Charter
(Macomb Co)
http://www.clintontownship.com/
|
36.8
|
Log on and pay your taxes online or find out what’s happening in the community or local government through the Park and Recreation Brochure or Supervisor’s Newsletter. Good contact information to the elected officials and community facilities is readily available on this simple yet uncluttered website.
|
|
Waterford Charter
(Oakland Co)
http://www.twp.waterford.mi.us/
|
36.3
|
Waterford Charter Township provides a straightforward website with an open site-index design on the homepage for their Services, Information and Township Government sections. Check out the plethora of Applications, Permits and Forms, a popular time and cost saving mechanism for both the citizens and government offices.
|
Saginaw Charter
(Saginaw Co)
http://www.sagtwp.org/
|
35.8
|
Some of Saginaw Charter Township’s newest website features include looking up general and zoning ordinances online by utilizing Municode.com’s external software system. They also provide an Assessor's Property Data Search along with departmental information and a healthy list of government and community websites.
|
Redford
Charter
(Wayne
Co)
http://www.redfordtwp.com/
|
34
|
Redford Charter Township’s site also hosts a list of important federal, state and local links besides the ability to pay your taxes and water bills online or via the telephone. The only drawback is the site’s navigation; the pull-down menus don’t react to normal text rollovers but rather one must place their cursor just to the right of the main menu text headers.
|
Tuscarora
(Cheboygan
Co)
http://www.tuscaroratwp.com
|
34
|
The website Tuscarora Township has developed a good list of concise information and emails to key individuals. A non-complex navigation system lets you know where you are within the site and utilizes PDFs and the opening of other sites in a new browser to differentiate between the website and external links.
|
Shelby Charter
(Macomb Co)
http://www.shelbytwp.org/
|
34
|
The Charter Township of Shelby continues to refine its highly-developed website. This site is well designed using color and columns to assist with its sophisticated navigation tools. Their up to date calendars and headlines keeps a wide variety of updates organized.
|
Bedford
(Monroe
Co)
http://www.bedfordmi.org/
|
34
|
Bedford Township websites has a self-explanatory layout with a majority of readable fonts and easily understood menus. The personal messages and feedback areas evokes a feeling of openness and concern for its constituents opinions.
|
Orion
(Oakland
Co)
http://www.oriontownship.org/
|
34
|
Orion Township’s website is based around a detailed directory which does contain clickable contact links for most of the key township officials. They also provide up to the moment special notices quite clearly on the homepage.
|
Hamburg
(Livingston
Co)
http://www.hamburg.mi.us/
|
33.8
|
Hamburg Township's website has a simple HTML layout but contains a ton of useful civic information including an interactive GIS Parcel Map which is updated monthly. They also provide well laid out details and forms including Job Applications and FOIA requests.
|
Plymouth Charter
(Wayne
Co)
http://www.plymouthtwp.org/
|
33.8
|
Plymouth Charter Township’s website contains a “Reference Desk” where you will find often asked for information from forms to meeting agendas as well as a link to email a comments/feedback request. It global and sub level navigation is well design and fast loading for all levels of Internet visitors.
|
MICHIGAN CITIES & VILLAGES
|
City or Village Name
|
2004 WAES Score
|
Review/Notable Features
|
Sterling Heights (Macomb Co)
http://www.ci.sterling-heights.mi.us
|
42
|
The City of Sterling Heights has an Online Services Directory that is hard to match. Some of these services include bid opportunities through the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network Purchasing System, e-subscriptions for a variety of notices, not to mention online registration for recreation classes. Keeping in line with the latest trends the city also provides an online version of regulations and codes.
|
Northville
(Wayne
Co)
http://www.ci.northville.mi.us/
|
40
|
The City of Northville is trying to be up close and personal with their “Live Help – Chat Window” which is operational and manned most office hours. This site also offers extensive community and online services options for their citizens.
|
Lansing, City of
(Ingham
Co)
http://cityoflansingmi.com/
|
40
|
IT strategy and other initiatives are highlighted off the “Mayor’s Office” of this website which lets its constituents know up front where things are heading for this local government. This website also contains extensive planning and economic development sections beside a packed newspaper oriented design.
|
Grosse Pointe Woods(Wayne
Co)
http://www.ci.grosse-pointe-woods.mi.us/
|
39
|
The City of Grosse Pointe Woods ranked in the top ten WAES assessed websites this year with a simple yet effective site structure and display. Another strong point for this website’s information is that much is presented in PDF format – a downloadable and printable standard.
|
Madison Heights
(Oakland
Co)
http://www.madison-heights.org
|
38
|
The City of Madison’s website contains a ample amount of information upfront but doesn’t loose focus displaying popular Services Directory, Forms and Online Services options that many visitors specifically come to the website for. This website also contains a vast archive of government procedures and happenings from 1994 forward.
|
Novi
(Oakland Co)
http://www.ci.novi.mi.us
|
38
|
Novi's front-end interface has a warm, community feel which continues throughout the website. Strong message on introductory pages to the Living, Business, Civic and Services like the use of its organizational chart provides useful information for all citizens.
|
Grand Rapids (Kent
Co)
http://www.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/
|
37
|
The City of Grand Rapids site contains professionally organized access points for their information. The strength here is in its dissemination of operational and organizational information. Special features include an issue reporting mechanism, GIS tools and a clear search results page assisting you to access their world of information with ease
|
Muskegon
(Muskegon
Co)
http://www.ci.muskegon.mi.us
|
37
|
The City of Muskegon website is indeed "e-Gov Empowered," the site provides its online options directly on the homepage. These include payment options for water bills or parking tickets, download employment applications and other forms/permits, and other links allow one to conduct a business search or perform a query on residence information.
|
Grandville
(Kent
Co)
http://www.cityofgrandville.com/
|
36
|
The City of Grandville’s professionally designed website makes great use of alternative text for the graphic menu options enhancing accessibility. Dual navigation menus at the top and bottom of all pages allows for easier navigation as well. A Mayor’s Welcome shows the user the commitment level of the agency at the onset of the government section.
|
Walker
(Kent
Co)
http://www.ci.walker.mi.us/
|
36
|
The website for the City of Walker is positively constituent information focused. The website request comments and suggestions up front on the homepage. They also clearly state when the site was last updated and provides helpful text descriptions of what you’ll discover within each section of the website.
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