Blacksburg Alert sends out daily emails to
inform and engage residents, commuters, students and visitors. On January 12, this email system sent out the following message:
Town of Blacksburg Launches Facebook Page - The Town of Blacksburg, Virginia took the next step into the world of social media by launching its Facebook presence. “This is really an exciting day for us,” said Community Relations Manager Heather Browning. “Nearly 10 years ago we introduced our e- notification system, Blacksburg Alert. Following that we began streaming video online, and posting to YouTube. Just a few years ago we redesigned the blacksburg.gov website, and entered the world of Twitter.” Fans of the Blacksburg Facebook page can expect to find useful government related news and information, in addition to photos, videos and timely updates on Town events. Actually, these Facebook posts date back to November 2008. It should also be noted that recent candidates for Town of Blacksburg council seats used various electronic tools and the
mayor launched a blog and began posting just after the conclusion of the town's November elections. There, readers can see his take on issues coming before council and thoughts about local issues.
Regardless of whether you are a resident of Blacksburg, these multiple tools give readers an understanding of the issues, progress or status, and general sense of what is going on in and around this community. This approach is inclusive and recognizes any tool available but unused is useless. It also acknowledges that reaching out to "customers" or constituents or consumers becomes more effective when done consistently and through as many channels as possible.
That's not limited to only talking with people you see everyday, or those who may come to a public meeting or place. That's not limited to people who might visit the official website (which needs to be refreshed and extensive to become a relevant tool) or
cable channel.
Like so many other things in Christiansburg where there's a pattern of "
wait and see" and a lot of rhetoric. Residents are reminded to consider the fact many incumbents have years and years of service to citizens, providing ample time to achieve goals either as council or planning commission members. As a refresher, here's just a few of the items sitting on Christiansburg's "wait and see" list:
- Noise / nuisance ordinance and enforcement
- Curbside recycling as part of town garbage collection for customers
- Move The Vote
- Updating town website
- Updating Town Code and Charter
- Providing online bill payment for any and all town services or taxes
- Adding traffic lights to problem areas and ensuring new developments include plans for a linked pedestrian/bike system throughout the town
- Extending bus service and growing it into an interconnected system
- Developing its own tourism and marketing plan for town facilities
- Developing a tourism and marketing plan as a means to attract and retain existing businesses
- Specific economic development plans to sustain and grow business tax revenues
- Scheduling regular public forums to solicit citizen input on the Comprehensive Plan and prioritizing stated goals
- Establishing an "antiques corridor" and delineating districts for visitors via wayfinding signage (public parking, points of interest, parks, shopping, etc.)
- Developing and publishing a business plan for recreational facilities
- Delaying and reforming Aquatic Advisory Board several times over the past decade
- Defining and executing significant "green" or sustainable initiatives along with incentives to encourage and align these efforts in public and private arenas
- Specific ways and means of protecting established historic districts or broadening inventory of contributing structures, and protections from encroachment
- Making use of CDBG funds available and identifying and accessing other grant opportunities
- Having an active Central Business District committee
Whether this is foot dragging, an inability to adapt, being dinosaurs or ostriches, or effective and visionary leadership is up to Christiansburg residents -- and voters -- to determine.
Meanwhile, Christiansburg Council, how about a little more face time? No need to wait for a
Public Information Officer, Community Relations Director or regional tourism agency to get to work now. No need to rely on how many voters come out as the only means of
getting citizen input.