The Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a five year contract for work on a new website and mobile app.
The deal with Revise LLC provides design, hosting, and maintenance services for the new platforms. City Administrator Tonya Tindle said the changes will give residents better access to information and services.
“There’s going to be an app that we can have people scan a QR code,” Tindle said. “And you’ll have an app on your phone, and we can give you all kinds of alerts and different stuff like that. Once it gets up and running, it’s going to be really handy.”
Grant funding will cover the costs of the website remodel and app, with the exception of annual maintainence fees. Mayor Jerry Lowery said this is a good deal, and he expects the app and website to launch soon.
Lowery said the app will help the city make communication between the city and residents easier, particularly when it comes to big impacts to the residents.
“If we have a road closure, people in the city download this app,” Lowery said. “And we can get it to them quickly, just by everybody has this tied to their phones.”
Tindle said the website will streamline the process of reserving the Civic Center. In the past, Lowery said people would make a reservation months in advance, and it was difficult for residents to keep up with it’s availability.
“What happens a lot of times is somebody will call, ‘I need it reserved three months out,'” Lowery said. “We block it off, several people call wanting it that day but we cant, we’ve got it blocked off. Then the day of, people cancel. This way, they’re going to have to pay up front and get it reserved. And it’s going to be paid, and it’s going to expedite that as well.”
Tindle said forms are currently being developed to reserve the civic center. There will also be a calendar for people to see what days are available. Tindle said people can pay their bills, tickets, and property taxes online with the new website.
