G’ville in E-ville

By Jeff Poole
Review Managing Editor
Published: June 19, 2008

Gordonsville’s gone on-line.
The town of Gordonsville launched a colorful, useful, interesting new website last month they hope will help local citizens and visitors alike.
“Our objective was to make it a user-friendly and helpful tool for our citizens and businesses, and to help attract people to our area,” Gordonsville Town Manager Sabrina Martyn said. “We think we’ve got a great little town and we wanted to share that with tourists, but at the same time, help our local businesses and residents.”
The site cost approximately $10,000, but Martyn said it was well worth it.
Citizens can find every town form on line, and stay apprised of town council activities. They can learn how the town’s police operate and how to report water leaks. There is information about trash collection, tax bills, zoning and building permits.
Businesses can find a well-assembled how-to guide to setting up shop in Gordonsville.
And out-of-town visitors can learn about the town’s history, as well as all the things to see and do in town.
“We tried to put as many things on there as we thought people would need,” Martyn said. “We really hope it helps open up communication between citizens and the town council and town administration.”
“We’re really proud of the website,” mayor Bob Coiner said. “It’s alluring and helpful to tourists and practical and useful for citizens.”
Websites and online options are a new citizen service for local government to provide. Most towns and counties have a web presence that provides fundamental information to citizens. The online availability of that information streamlines operations for citizens and town staff.
“We have a lot of information available on line and hopefully that will cut down the time people have to spend coming into the office and at the same time help them keep up with what the town’s doing.”
Check out the town’s site at: http://www.townofgordonsville.org/

In other town news, Coiner was one of four town residents who filed their candidacy for Gordonsville Town Council by last Tuesday’s deadline.
Coiner was the only one to file candidacy for mayor, a post he has held the last four years.
Maranacci M. Wilson and incumbents Avis Beasley and Theresa Lewis were the other town residents who filed their candidacies.
There are three open council seats in the November election and the mayor’s seat.