One concern expressed about moving Christiansburg's town elections from the month of May to November was having "uninformed voters" participate.
One year after Christiansburg's launch of its updated website, are voters more informed?
Our neighbors in Blacksburg don't have much reason to be uninformed, or uninvolved with their government. Their meetings are recorded and broadcast on either WTOB (a television station through the town's cable franchise) or found via the town's website. Blacksburg routinely advertises events with key partners as well as conducting numerous public forums providing many opportunities for citizens to serve on various work groups.
All this information flows out on a regular basis via "Blacksburg Alerts" where anyone can sign up for information on a wide range of subjects. Examples include the installation of wayfinding signs (something the TDC suggested to their funding partners nearly a year ago), to conditional use permit (CUP) applications -- including all the details about who, why, where. Often the related filing documents are included. Other examples include Planning Commission meetings and documents, various neighborhood meetings, Christmas tree pick-up or special recycling notices.
Have you ever heard of a "public input meeting" for a proposed zoning change for historic districts (before the public hearings), in Christiansburg? Have you been asked to participate in any surveys, such as one to recruit "new businesses that will complement our existing offerings downtown and fill up vacant storefronts" -- and doing this anonymously, online? Or a joint event between the town and a downtown business group, or having regular council meeting documents sent out, just one click away? Blacksburg uses multiple and consistent access, and has done so for many years. Years.
In Christiansburg, residents had to wait for a webmaster to be replaced. That job description sort of shifted and then we had to wait for a small group to contract out for an upgrade. Then citizens had to wait for an IT job to be filled, and now we're told to wait for a Public Information Officer to be hired. Instead of community meetings seeking public input, citizens get officials going off alone to define a new vision and goals. Are related projects, with budgets and timelines, to be found on the website? Nope.
This all seems to indicate Christiansburg administration and council has not and does not believe having an involved and informed constituency is a priority. Priorities are things that get done, fast.
Throw online bill payment on top of this, and you see some frustration. Consider that the PIO wasn't funded in the budget, and you realized council has access to discretionary spending funds.
Maybe beggars can't be choosers. In the meantime, at least go to the Christiansburg web site and sign up for the few alerts which are offered. Maybe, as Tom Brokaw suggested, citizens do care, want to be asked or need to know -- but everyone's just so busy running to keep their jobs and a roof over their heads -- having a real community of informed citizens has to be made convenient.