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County considers return to paper for older residents

Online efforts to reach residents also will continue as officials seek ways to inform older and younger audiences.

DETAILS

What: Catawba County Citizen Information Plan

When: Approved 2006

Reason: Provides a framework for getting information about county services and programs to residents

Accomplishments since 2006:

• Held community meetings in Sherrills Ford, Jacobs Fork and St. Stephens, attended by 240, 48 and 11, respectively

• Launched audio podcasts on county Web site

• Developed RSS feeds, now available through the county Web site for news and job opportunities

• Developed blogs for the Catawba County Green Team and the county’s chief information officer; a legislative blog is under development

• Creation of team of public information officers, which meets monthly

Next Steps: Focus on communication with citizens to better inform and educate them on county government

By Dee Henry | Hickory Daily Record

Published: January 14, 2009

NEWTON - In an age of technology, Catawba County government is considering using some old methods of communication — paper and face-to-face discussions.

"I think we're moving in the right direction, but we don't want to leave a generation behind," said Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Kitty Barnes at a workshop presentation focusing on the county's Citizen Information Plan. "I would like to see a book of press releases in the library."

Barnes' comment followed a presentation by county Chief Information Officer Terry Bledsoe, who focused on the county's use of technology such as Facebook and Twitter to reach a younger audience.

Studies show people vote when they are 18, or the first election following that birthday, but then don't seem to show interest in government until their 30s, Bledsoe said.

Barnes said she is afraid that while those methods are gaining ground in the county with a younger audience, it may be costing older residents who may not have access or interest in a computer. She said the methodology used in communicating with computers bothered her.

"I guess we're still looking at information you can put on a bumper sticker, and some of our issues are so complex," she said.

The group also discussed holding public meetings, specifically informal ones like a breakfast or coffee chat. The question to be answered is when and where.

If meetings were held during the day, commissioners worried people would have conflicts with their work schedule.

"That format has worked in some places," said County Public Information Officer David Hardin, "but it works better in cities like Greensboro or Cary where there is more cohesiveness."

Hardin admitted the alternative — evening meetings — would have to offer something believed important by residents.

"If we're asking people to come out on another evening just to get some information, it's not going to work," Hardin said of residents already stretched by family and social obligations.

The idea of a video highlighting the county to put on the World Wide Web was tabled for now due to an expected prohibitive cost. Staff, however, was asked to explore the option to get an idea of the price range.

"I think we need to explore these options, especially the cost so we can decide which direction to move in," Barnes said.

Hardin reported an increasing interest in the county's e-newsletter, saying he had been receiving six to eight subscription requests each week for the past six months.