Columbia’s Improved Website is Now Live!

The City of Columbia’s official website has been upgraded to better serve the community.  This past Friday, the re-designed site went live, offering many improvements.

First, City staff worked with CivicPlus, the vendor, to completely update the design of the site. In conjunction with that process, the team reorganized the website’s navigation, making it easier to find content. As a result, the whole look and feel of the website has been updated and improved.

Three new features merit special notice:

 The calendar now shows dates in a graphic manner, not just as a list, making it easier to find events via the website;

 Navigation has been revamped to make it easier to find content and functions on the site;

 The website has a new, revolving slide show highlighting content and services of special interest--including some new, high interest content that has recently been added.

Other changes are being made to improve the website’s functionality for new businesses seeking to locate in this area. National studies suggest that more than 98% of site selections are with primary contact via a community’s website.

Further improvements will continue to be made to make Columbia’s website more useful to citizens as well as for visitors and potential investors. If you have a suggestion for improving the website, please send it to Paul Ellis, pellis@columbiaillinois.com or (618) 281-7144.

In Columbia, Volunteers Are Tops!

Dozens of community volunteers turned out last evening to celebrate Columbia's designation by the State of Illinois as the inaugural winner of the "Outstanding Community Volunteerism" award.

As pictured at right, volunteers gathered at Tiny's Pub & Grill to raise a glass and cheer one another while highway signs announcing Columbia's designation were unveiled on Highway 3 entering town from both directions.  "Volunteers are the heartbeat of a community," said Community & Economic Development Director Paul Ellis at the event, "and in Columbia, that heartbeat is particularly strong."

The "Outstanding Community Volunteerism" award is part of the Governor’s Hometown Awards program, presented continuously since 1983, which gives formal recognition to those who have answered contributed to their community’s quality of life. 

Columbia Wins Inaugural Home Town Award

The City of Columbia yesterday received the inaugural award in a new category established for the Governor's Home Town Award program to recognize the community's outstanding volunteer spirit.

Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and representatives from five local volunteer efforts accepted the first-ever "Outstanding Community Volunteerism" award as part of a ceremony held at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield. Governor Pat Quinn announced 26 projects as 2010 Governor’s Home Town Award recipients. The awards recognize the contributions of thousands of Illinois’ volunteers for their hard work and dedication towards improving their communities.

Projects recognized in Columbia's award were the following:

Art on the Bluffs
The Art on the Bluffs Art Walk was created to highlight Columbia's art and architecture during the community's sesquicentennial. Ten months of meetings culminated in historic Main Street's transformation to an "Art Walk" staffed by more than 100 volunteers. Sixty‐seven professional artists lined the street both outside and in thirty‐one locations. The Kid's Area was a great success, as children were encouraged to actively participate in creating a variety of artwork, including using recycled materials as well as painting a large mural. The broad range of artists, musicians, and dancers assured all of the 2,500 patrons attending would find something of interest and enjoy the Art Walk.

Friends of the Library
In 10 years Columbia's population has doubled, causing an increasingly cramped children's area in the Library. The Friends of the Library recognized the need and decided to hold a Holiday House Tour to raise funds for additional space. Volunteers solicited hosts for the tour and goods for the raffle, prepared refreshments for the registration point, created promotional materials, and sold tickets. The Tour raised $3,597. The funds provided a larger space for the children's area with fixtures scaled to their sizes and needs.

Kiwanis Car Show
The Annual Columbia Kiwanis Car Show has evolved into a yearly event with 100% of the proceeds used to fund the Kiwanis Educational Enrichment Program at Parkview Elementary. Better known as K.E.E.P., the program fills a gap in the educational process for at risk youth between the 2nd and 5th grades who were in danger of falling behind in reading skills. $5,000 has been donated annually for after‐school tutoring. The success of the program has been determined through increased standardized test scores in reading. Consequently, the school district worked the reading program into their budget. Now funds from the K.E.E.P. program assist in tutoring in mathematics.

Besides the long‐term educational benefits to the area children, more than 250 cars, music, and good food combine for the largest show in the area.

Play Commission
When Columbia was named "A Playful City" in a national recognition program for communities creating an agenda for play, they celebrated by having "A Play Day". The free day was full of activities and fun including Frisbee Golf, Punt/Pass/Kick, Parachute Toss, Yarn Spider Web, Recycle City and many more. A scavenger hunt was held to help participants "discover" Bolm‐Schuhkraft Memorial City Park. Attendees had the opportunity to become "Park Pals", a program to engage young citizens to read and obey park rules, control litter and report abuse or safety issues.

Sand Bank School Restoration
The historic Sand Bank schoolhouse would likely have been demolished if not for the efforts of volunteers. The one‐room white clapboard school, built in 1855 was in poor repair and up for sale. A retired high school principal and his friend purchased the school. Carpenters donated their skills to straighten the eastern wall of windows and reconstructed the foundation of the old coal shed. A local philanthropist provided funds to meet the immediate need of roof repair. The Monroe County Highway Department cleared the overgrowth of weeds that had overtaken the site. Others donated the septic system, concrete, and window glazing.

An innovative partnership was created with the high school Construction Trades classes. Students gutted the inside of the building, helped run electricity, installed plasterboard, and assisted in the heating and cooling system. The students learned valuable skills through hands‐on experience as well as helped to save a historic icon of education.

Open House Will Preview Aging Assessment

The Columbia Plan Commission will hold an open house on October 25th, at which time members of the public are invited to review Building Maturing, Livable Communities, a draft community assessment, and offer their comments.

Increased life expectancy is creating record numbers of people aged 65 and older. While this age group represented only 13% of the population in 2000, it will comprise about 21% of the population in 2030. The group expected to grow most rapidly in the next 30 years is the one aged 85 years and older.

Over the past several months, members of Columbia’s Plan Commission have been assessing the local community's readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. In this task, the Commission has used assessment tools provided by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois. While identifying challenges confronting Columbia in the various areas assessed, the Commission also hopes to identify many of the positive features that already make this city a very desirable community for the aged—and for other citizens—now and in the future.

Public input is encouraged as the Commission prepares its final report. Copies of the Commission's draft document are available for download from the City website, at City Hall or from a number of other locations around town, including the Monroe County 'Y' and the Columbia Senior Center.

The open house will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the second-floor Auditorium at Columbia City Hall, 208 S. Rapp Ave.  Members of the Plan Commission will be on hand to answer questions or accept comments, and additional copies of the draft document will be available.  The Auditorium is handicapped accessible.

Draft Assessment Ready for Review

The Columbia Plan Commission has prepared "Building Maturing, Livable Communities," a draft community assessment of services for the aging in cooperation with the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois. The agency is assisting seven other Metro East communities, such as Edwardsville and Waterloo, in completing similar assessments.

Members of the Plan Commission--an advisory body to the Columbia City Council--began the community assessment last year to focus upon the Columbia community and its readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. Increased life expectancy is resulting in record numbers of people aged 65 and older--while this age group represented only 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, it will grow to comprise about 21% of the population in 2030.

The 28-page draft document is available online from the City's website and copies are available upon request from the City Clerk's office.  Interested residents are invited to review the document and offer their comments and/or criticisms; the Plan Commission will host an open house to more fully review the report at a yet to be determined date in the near future.

Draft Senior Assessment Available for Review Tonight

The Columbia Plan Commission was honored Friday by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Illinois for its efforts in undertaking an assessment of senior services--even though the effort hasn't been completed yet. The Commission’s work will be available for review by the public tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Columbia City Hall.

Members of the Columbia Plan Commission--an advisory body to the Columbia City Council--began a community assessment last year to focus upon the Columbia community and its readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. Increased life expectancy is resulting in record numbers of people aged 65 and older--while this age group represented only 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, it will grow to comprise about 21% of the population in 2030.

Columbia was one of eight communities honored last week at the luncheon held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Also recognized were Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, Greenville, New Baden, Red Bud and Waterloo.

School District Board to Preview Higher Taxes, New Leader

Residents and business owners may be especially interested in what the Columbia Unit School District Board of Directors has scheduled for this coming Thursday evening, December 17th.

First, the school board will be holding a public hearing regarding a tax levy increase to 15.81% on the following schedule:

6:45 p.m. (Tax Levy Hearing)

7:00 p.m. (Regular Board Meeting)

Later, the board is expected to name a new district superintendent during their regular meeting.  Current superintendent Ed Settles announced in September that he was stepping down to become superintendent of the Jerseyville School District.

The district office has now moved to Columbia High School (77 Veterans Parkway), and the Board of Education meets in Room 114.

Plan Commission Looks at Community Impacts from Aging

Increased life expectancy is creating record numbers of people aged 65 and older. While this age group represented only 13% of the population in 2000, it will comprise about 21% of the population in 2030. The group expected to grow most rapidly in the next 30 years is the one aged 85 years and older. What does this demographic shift mean for Columbia in the future?
 
Members of the City's Plan Commission are undertaking an assessment to focus upon the Columbia community's readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. In this task, the Commission is using assessment tools provided by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois. The agency has already assisted other Metro East communities, such as Edwardsville and Waterloo, in completing similar assessments.
 
The Plan Commission expects to complete their assessment and have it ready for public review by April, 2010. In the meantime, public input is encouraged as the Commission reviews each area of interest. While identifying challenges confronting Columbia in the various areas assessed, the Commission also hopes to identify many of the positive features that already make this city a very desirable community for the aged—and for other citizens—now and in the future.
 
For a schedule of meetings and additional information, please visit the City of Columbia’s website.

City Website Gets New Look

City of Columbia staff and colleagues from Monroe County participated last month in an economic development marketing workshop sponsored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). A major theme of that workshop was the importance of marketing communities via websites and social media; as a consequence, the City's website will be getting a facelift over the next few weeks.

According to Bob Ady of Ady International Company, 62% of corporate leaders now use community websites as their primary source for evaluation of potential sites for new locations. This is a big change from even a few years ago--a change that corresponds with the rise of site selection consultants who have multiple clients and little time. Ady observes:

If a community doesn’t have a website, the website cannot easily be found or it doesn’t have the right type of information, the consultant moves on to other communities that have the information he or she needs.

Columbia's website will be undergoing reorganization and redesign as part of the facelift. Expect to find information more easily--and find more of it--and expect more graphics, links and features.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Todd

Charles Todd has a long and distinguished history in Columbia. Among other things, he founded the laundry cleaning company which today is Crown Linen Service and established Toddhall Retreat & Conference Center.

For the past two years, Todd has been an active member of Columbia's Heritage & Preservation Commission. He helped that group erect a columbarium in historic Warderman Cemetery and provide for burial of indigents with both his personal time and money. This week, it will be announced that Todd has donated $20,000 to the City of Columbia to spur renovation of the historic Miller-Fiege Home.

Members of the Heritage & Preservation Commission are now asking the Columbia City Council to name Charles Todd the first ever Commissioner Emeritas, in recognition of his long and sustained service.

Putting Our Best Facebook Forward

To many, technology is the clearest path to an open government. Cities across North America are deploying venues like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook as means to more effectively communicate with the public.

Cities are interested in this technology for the same reason that corporations are--it offers valuable user data. Elected officials can survey the concerns of their constituency and agencies can identify problems in neighborhoods, while citizens can enjoy greater access to their leaders and help government pursue greater transparency.

To those ends, a page for Columbia, Illinois has been posted on Facebook; it allows users of that social medium to post pictures, discuss topics and become "fans" of the city.

Why City Planners Blog

"Blogs are emerging as important information sources in the contemporary discourse on cities and city planning," observes Michael Dudley, Research Associate and Librarian for the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg in a recent post on Planetizen.

Dudley cites several ways in which blogs can help professional planners develop better processes and products, including:

1. Allowing planners to contribute to community debate in a very timely way;
2. Initiating dialogue--postings are always subject to commentary and refutation;
3. Helping planners to keep track of, understand and--more importantly--mentally integrate perspectives from multiple sources to combine them with their own thoughts and observations.

As a form of communication with colleagues and the public, an attractive environment for citizen engagement, a way to track trends and issues, and as a resource for the planning educator--"the blog can become an important and exciting part of the planner’s professional toolkit."

It is becoming relatively common for cities to use blogs for general communication, venues that Oak Harbor planner Rob Voight describes as "a kind of voice mail on growth hormone." By developing project-specific blogs for the issues related to subdivision regulations (as in his site, http://www.cohsubdivisions.blogspot.com/), Voight has pioneered use of these online tools in ways that are innovative for municipalities.

Voight contends that blogging "is not only a tool but an entirely new platform for community engagement."

Carnegie President Urges More Citizens to Volunteer

Warning against the loss of the sense of community in modern American life, Vartan Gregorian of the Carnegie Corporation of New York this past week has issued a call for citizens to work more closely together for broad societal benefits.

Gregorian, co-chair of last week's ServiceNation Summit, is urging Americans to "join their personal aspirations for the future with their hopes for the collective progress of the nation." In an essay soon to be published in Time magazine, Gregorian argues that Americans have carried "individualism" to a new level of idolatry.

"While instantaneous communication and online technologies seem to connect us," he writes, "they also allow us to report on the minutiae of our daily lives and contribute to a cult of the individual. But in elevating the individual to center stage, we are quickly losing the sense of the larger community that draws us out of ourselves and our isolated circles and into the wider society."

Recognizing the strength and number of our voluntary associations as the expression of the collective American nature goes back to Alexis de Tocqueville. Today, Gregorian calls for ways to provide new and more varied opportunities and incentives for people to volunteer their time. He also identifies a need to decrease duplication through cooperative efforts and collaborative projects that allow for more effective targeting of available resources while freeing up financial and human resources for equally critical needs.

Calling commitment to volunteer effort "one of the greatest antidotes we have to pessimism about our collective future," Gregorian writes that "there is nothing cynical or shallow about offering to lend a hand...[i]ndeed, doing so is the opposite of so many of the ills that too often these days characterize our society."