EDITORIAL: Tazewell site has room to improve, but makes grade

Mar 21, 2012 (The Pantagraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- As they say in the National Football League, "Upon further review, the call on the field has been reversed." The Sunshine Review has changed its grade for Tazewell County's website to "C+" from an "F." Although Tazewell didn't score a touchdown, it gained a lot of yardage in improving the access to information that it provides to the public.

When Tazewell County Board Chairman David Zimmerman and board member John Ackerman saw a Pantagraph Editorial last week listing the latest grades from the Sunshine Review, a group dedicated to improving government openness, they threw a yellow flag. An earlier failing grade had helped prompt Tazewell to upgrade its website.

"It's not where we want it to be," Zimmerman said. "But it's not an 'F.'" Taking a closer look at the website after being contacted by Ackerman, the Sunshine Review changed the grade for Tazewell County.

Preventing Tazewell from receiving a top grade were the lack of information on taxpayer-funded lobbying, no current external audit posted online and no contracts posted with external vendors and service providers. In addition, the Sunshine Review noted that some budget documents are available online, but they are not in a centralized location and there was no finalized budget.

But the website does have key information, including the meeting calendar, agenda and minutes; board member's names, email addresses and phone numbers; building permit and zoning information; and information on how to request public records.

Tazewell County deserves a pat on the back for two things.

First, officials took the critique to heart and made changes to the county's website that benefit taxpayers.

Second, they are not satisfied with merely a passing grade.

As noted above, the board chairman said the website is "not where we want it to be." Furthermore, Ackerman said in an email, "While I am proud of the huge improvement witnessed over the past few years, much more is needed to get us to the 'A+' level the citizens of the county deserve." Zimmerman said an additional information technology position is in the budget; adding that person should enable the county to expand what is offered on the website and keep it up to date.

We commend Tazewell County for its actions on behalf of its residents and encourage other government officials in counties, cities and school districts to follow their example toward improving public access to information.

___ (c)2012 The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) Visit The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) at www.pantagraph.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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