W. Dundee releasing Facebook page, online service

Thursday marks a significant step for the village of West Dundee when it comes to the social media landscape.

The village will launch its Facebook page as well as an online service request system that would allow residents to report concerns, such as cracked sidewalks, missed trash pickups or burned out streetlights. Residents should continue to call 911 in emergencies.

Officials recognize they need to be wherever their residents are and that includes Facebook, because not everyone subscribes to the village’s community email blasts, Nelson said.

“Our intention is to upgrade our technological offerings, make it easier for people to interact with us,” Village President Christopher Nelson said. “We’re just trying to leverage more technology to make government more accessible to residents.”

The Facebook page would complement the village’s existing website by offering community updates, information on road construction, letting people know when there’s an alternate garbage date and note unusual happenings.

The service request system can be accessed via personal computer and mobile device on the village’s website as well. At no cost to residents, the village used its own IT staff to develop a webpage formatted for PC and mobile device use, Nelson said.

The village held a soft launch of the Facebook page a few weeks ago to work out all of the bugs before it’s available for public use. The village initially considered releasing an app, but decided against it once officials found out it would cost the village $2,000 annually in various fees, Nelson said.

Nelson used Hoffman Estates’ Facebook page as a model for West Dundee’s page. Hoffman Estates also runs YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.

West Dundee’s next foray into social networking likely will be Twitter, Nelson said.

“Our intent is not to just rely on one have to have communication with fellow residents, we’d like to have several,” Nelson said.

But if social media isn’t your thing, West Dundee will continue to maintain its website and distribute its Village Newslist — an email blast of community happenings.

To sign up for the newslist, visit www.dundee.org.