Roselle getting phone alert system, updated newsletter

Roselle officials have adopted two new tools they hope will help better connect the village with its residents.

Roselle's committee of the whole gave preliminary approval this week for an emergency warning telephone system, which will be administered through a company called Code Red and will notify residents of events like flooding.

And this spring, residents will get a look at their redesigned village newsletter that aims to make information easier to find.

Village President Gayle Smolinski said officials had sought an emergency phone program beginning in 2007 but could not find an affordable provider. Last summer they discovered Code Red, which is used by several nearby municipalities and charges approximately $10,000 annually.

Smolinski said other providers were asking nearly double the price.

Residents will be able to register up to five phone numbers where they want to receive alerts, or they may opt out of the system once it is launched. Smolinski said it will be rare for all villagers to receive phone notifications at once, since the system can target certain areas within Roselle.

"If we want to give notice about an intersection that will be closed, we can target a specific radius around that problem area," Smolinski said. "We don't want to overload people with robo calls and have them stop listening. We want them to pay attention."

Officials expect to give final approval for this program at a meeting on Monday, March 9, Smolinski said.

And starting with the May-June issue of the Roselle Reporter village newsletter, residents will see a four-color, glossy publication that offers new features and organization. Smolinski said it will coordinate with Roselle's new tagline created under its marketing effort: Tradition meets tomorrow. "It's recognizing that we have strong roots but are moving forward and embracing technology," she said.

The publication will now feature news for certain departments, such as police and fire, on the same page in each issue to help readers who routinely look for certain information.

Smolinski said officials also made a conscious decision to continue advertisements, which will appear on a double page at the end of the newsletter, to keep reminding residents to visit local businesses. The Reporter also will showcase local business and chamber of commerce news, as well as feature articles on new businesses.

"We want you to think Roselle first when you're going to buy something or go somewhere to eat," Smolinski said. "We want residents to ask, 'Is there somewhere in Roselle I can do that before I go out of town?'"