Richmond unveils new Web site, logo
New address replaces former site created in 2003

BY BILL ENGLE
STAFF WRITER

Richmond has a new address and logo. City officials this week launched the city's Web site, complete with a new Web address. An informal city committee of department heads studied the city's aging Web site last spring and came up with a plan.

The new address is www.richmondindiana.gov

"We decided that the Web site didn't meet our information technology needs," said city planner Scott Zimmerman. "I think we all believed that the public expects any business, government, non-profit, etc., to have a viable Web presence and we didn't feel the city Web site met that expectation."

Eventually, the city hired Programming and Micros (PAM), who just moved to Richmond, to rebuild the Web site. The company also designed the city's new logo. The city is paying PAM $6,505 for the work.

"They didn't feel we could take the old Web site and spruce it up," Zimmerman said. "We think it's a vast improvement. Visually it looks so much better."

Phil Quinn is on the image and identity committee that is one of the committees overseeing implementing the city's Comprehensive Plan. He worked on the Web site project and said he is pleased with the result.

"I really think PAM did an excellent job and they've been so helpful working with city department heads," Quinn said. "I think what you'll see is something that is much more comprehensive. The one thing I stressed was to have the city's Web address simple, no abbreviations and easy to spell.

"Now, if you can spell Richmond, Indiana you can get on the site," he said.

The former Web site was created in 2003, said police chief Kris Wolski, a member of the city's information technology committee.

"You can tell a lot from a Web site," Wolski said. "I think we've made it easier for people to get information about Richmond and Richmond government and made it easier for people to communicate with us."

Wolski said the committee would now look to add electronic transactions to the Web site so that people can pay parking tickets, reserve cabins or shelters in the park or purchase golf passes on line by the end of 2008.

"I think this Web site is a huge improvement over the old one," he said. "And I think the logo creates a branding for the city, something that identifies Richmond, Indiana."

Originally published December 9, 2007 at http://www.pal-item.com