Borough Assembly heads to cyberspace

May 6, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Charlotte Cremer just gained a fresh insight into the work performed by members of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.

Sitting at her computer Sunday, she logged on to the borough's Web page and downloaded the information packet for Tuesday's assembly meeting.

"I tried to read through it, but there was so much there," she said. "I just can't believe how much the assembly members have to read. It gave me a new level of respect for how difficult their job is."

Cremer was one of the first Valley residents to take advantage of the new online service being offered by the borough, which makes the entire assembly information packet available online.

Borough Clerk Michelle McGehee announced to the assembly that having the packet online has been a six-month project undertaken by her office.

"This is just a new way of making the information about assembly business more accessible to the community," McGehee said. "Before, people had to make a trip to borough offices to read through the packet of information, which sometimes is 500-700 pages. Now they can log on to their computer and read through the information about the next assembly meeting from the comfort of home."

The assembly packet contains more than the ordinances and resolutions on which the assembly is scheduled to take action. It also contains background information, maps, studies and impact statements on topics set for assembly action.

Installation of a new combination printer/scan-ner in the clerk's office was a key element to getting the packet online.

"The new Sharp copier we got also scans documents and converts them into PDF format," McGehee said. "That was the first step. After that we had to coordinate with the computer services and the Web development people to get things going online."

McGehee went on to say that the large packet will be broken into sections in order to make things easier for the reader.

"Not everyone has a high-speed Internet connection," McGehee said. "The multiple sections make it possible for those with dial-up connections to download the packet as well."

Cremer accessed the packet from her computer via a dial-up connection and reported she had no problem with the download.

"It took a little while, but everything worked just fine," Cremer said.

Once her download was complete, Cremer reported she was able to scan through the packet and print out the pages she had a particular interest in reading.

Assembly member Mary Kvalheim praised the online packet.

"This is great for the people of the borough," Kvalheim said. "It allows people a greater access to their government. People from the far ends of the borough, and even in Palmer and Wasilla, can just log on and be better informed."

McGehee said her office hopes to have all future assembly packets online by the Friday afternoon prior to regular meetings.

Darrell Breese may be reached at 352-2267.