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Seminole launches its Web site today with the goal of giving people more access to their government.
By MAUREEN BYRNE AHERN
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 13, 2002
SEMINOLE -- Wondering if you need a permit to install a white picket fence in your side yard? Curious if the Seminole Recreation Center offers a yoga class in the evenings? Interested in how this year's city budget compares with last year's numbers?
You don't need to bother picking up the phone and calling. And you can save yourself a trip to the building department, the recreation complex and City Hall.
With the city's debut of its Web site today, you can find the answers to these questions and more online.
"It's a way of easily and conveniently getting information to the citizens' homes," said Harry Kyne, Seminole's director of administration and director of the Web site project. "With more people having computers, I think everyone expects it."
As far as Web sites go, Seminole's is still a work in progress with some of the pages still being developed, Kyne said. The city hired a Web designer to create the site, www.city-seminole.org, but Seminole's newly hired technology specialist, Matt Sabella, will monitor the pages.
Kyne said upcoming features on the site will include access to job applications, a schedule of road projects and a link to the Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce.
But visit the site today and you'll see pictures and job descriptions of city administrators and City Council members. The site also has a list of the city's job openings and employee benefits and a link to Seminole Community Library and St. Petersburg College Library.
Seminole's library has had a Web site for four years. Library director Michael Bryan said it's practically a must to be on the information highway these days. He said he's glad Seminole's government now has a place there.
"I'm all for doing what we can to inform the public," Bryan said.