The City of Quitman has launched a new website to make everything that is taking place in the city more accessible to residents: cityquitman.net.
“My whole objective with the website is to make city government transparent,” explained Quitman Mayor Steve Watkins. “I want it to be where people can easily get information that they want. We just developed the new website in the latter part of the summer and got it finished. There are some portions of it that we’re still working on, and we have those pages identified as information coming soon.”
In an effort to be transparent, the mayor is making sure that the website includes a link to show all the ordinances and decisions reached at the different board meetings.
“We’re trying to make it where everything we have a City Hall is very transparent. People can access to different types of records, such as the agendas to the board meetings that we have posted,” continued Watkins. “We’re working on getting copies made so that we can make a link posting the minutes from the board meetings soon. We have some of the ordinances that apply to different people and general information on the town.”
He also includes links highlighting different city services, information for new residents, information for businesses who would like to start or relocate in the city, upcoming events in the community, and a link to the water quality report for the city. The website also possesses a link to easily access a job search.
“We’re tied into a statewide job search,” proclaimed Watkins. “It automatically stays up-to-date.”
The new website also shows the information obtained from a new meter the city has been granted in the Chickasawhay River.
“We were able to get a measuring station for the Chickasawhay River here in Quitman,” expressed Watkins. “We have a link where anyone can click on it and see what’s going on with the river: what the height is and those type things.”
Residents are able to use the website to pay their water bill and court fees and can access and complete the form for voter registration.
In the effort to make sure that the community has access to all relevant information, there is also a quick link that can lead people to the forms they would need for all of the following: Application for Employment (all positions), Application for Replacement Title, Beer License, Billing Adjustment for Leaks, Birth Certificate Request Form, Building Permit Application Form, Depot Rental Contract, Disabled Parking Application, Establish Water Service, Homestead Exemption Worksheet, Motor Boat Registration Application, Voter Registration Form, and Water Bill Bank Draft Authorization.
Mayor Watkins is in charge of maintaining the website and keeping it current, and he has enjoyed learning the process and making sure that it is filled with relevant information to help anyone in the community. He is open to suggestions from those in the community on different things that others may want to see included, and any suggestions can be made to him by calling City Hall at 601-776-3728.
Within a couple of weeks, the mayor also hopes to have the new city app up and running, and it will be able to be downloaded on both iPhones and Androids.
