Great state and local sites
GCN selects some of the best state and local government Web sites
New Jersey Department of Agriculture: New Jersey takes
its home-grown vittles and greenery very seriously, if this
well-done site is any indication. It offers a wide variety of
resources for residents who want to support local efforts. There is
a comprehensive list of roadside markets, pick-your-own farms and
community farmers markets. Another page has a listing of vendors
who offer New Jersey-grown trees, flowers and shrubbery. And
elsewhere on the site, you even can find a list of recipes for
Jersey Shore seafood. Tell us how the "Jersey Fisherman's Stew"
works out. (www.nj.gov/agriculture)
Buckeye Traffic (Ohio): Never get stuck in Ohio again.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has set up an interactive map
that shows traffic and road construction for the state.
(www.buckeyetraffic.org)
D.C. Public Safety Radio and Television Shows (Washington
D.C.): Operated by the Court Services and Offender Supervision
Agency, this site offers podcasts and Web videos of a wide range of
topics, from drug treatment plans to interviews with law offenders.
One of the most popular government multimedia offerings, this site
gets over 122,000 visitors per month. (media.csosa.gov)
Utah.gov Online Services (Utah): Like many good state
portals, Utah's consolidates a wealth of resources, not only from
its own state agencies, but outside resources as well. The site
also offers an innovative search service, in which you can specify
the general type of service you seek, and then the service itself,
making it easier to find a specific offering.
(www.utah.gov/services).
Lead Poisoning Prevention (Minnesota): The Minnesota
Department of Health has taken the lead on the issue of lead
poisoning, offering a comprehensive site that offers information on
what to do with a house that may have lead paint.
(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/lead/rule.html).
Marin County Home (Marin County, Fla.): Marin County's
home page is all about government transparency. Here on the home
page you will find a complete list of the county's bids, as well as
the awarded contracts. The agendas county board meetings are
posted, as are videos of the events afterwards.
(www.martin.fl.us)
MyMonroe (Monroe County, N.Y.): Monroe County has taken
to offering Web services with a gusto that is rare among its peers.
From the citizen-centered home page, you can find out how to order
your birth certificate, research property and assessment
information, or register your cell phone with emergency call
centers. The site also has an amazing collection of maps generated
by ESRI Geographic Information System software, covering everything
from voting districts to population distribution. It even has a
live feed of recent 911 calls.
(www.monroecounty.gov/home-index.php)
Transvista Map (Texas): For El Paso, Texas' Department of
Transportation offers a comprehensive map, supplied by Microsoft
Virtual Earth mapping service, that provides icons that link to
traffic cameras, road-warning signs and alerts.
(elpits.dot.state.tx.us/its-cameras).
Leon County, Fla.: One of the slickest and most enjoyable
county sites on the Web, the Leon County Web site has received
accolades aplenty. In 2008, it earned the Digital Counties Survey
award from the Center for Digital Government, which sought to
commend Web sites that make better use of government resources by
offering services to citizens. In 2006, the site earned an A the
National Policy Research Council's e-gov report card.
(www.leoncountyfl.gov)