By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
As Zeeland Township begins work on its master plan, the Township Board is considering whether it would be beneficial to create a social media page as a way of sharing information with its residents.
The board on March 17 spent nearly an hour debating a proposed social media policy that would guide the township in how it might use a potential Facebook or other social media account. No final decisions were made, but a majority of the board seemed to see value in having the township set up a Facebook page. The township Fire Department already has a Facebook page.
In a memo to the board, Township Manager Josh Eggleston wrote that the idea behind having a social media page would be to “improve accessibility, increase public engagement, better promote openness and transparency, build public confidence, promote good governance … provide timelier dissemination of important township information, and provide greater understanding and awareness of the township’s governmental process.”
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer sees Facebook as a way of informing residents of important information concerning them.
“I don’t look at our website, but I’m on Facebook,” Veldheer said. “(We can use it) when we want to (let people know about) a survey for our master plan or remind them that their taxes are due, that there’s a road closing, that elections are coming up or there’s a job opening.”
While not referring to the project by name, Veldheer also pointed out how residents have used Facebook to let their neighbors know about the proposed Silver Maple solar project.
“Residents are doing a better job of communicating with other residents and getting information out on Facebook … than we are,” she said.
Trustee John Schrauger questioned whether sharing township information via social media would be redundant, given the township is moving toward livestreaming of its meetings starting in April, and that it already has a website where board meeting packets and minutes can be found.
“Obviously, we should be using this platform, but how, and specifically, for what purpose?” Schrauger asked.
Trustee Dave Barry sees problems with the township having a social media presence, saying “these are platforms that are designed to capture your attention through negative means.”
“I think that’s a lot of time, effort and energy on a means that really has no social redeeming value,” Barry said. “I think we’re much better served by establishing an email list serve, capturing emails from our Zeeland Township residents through the tax rolls … push the content that we want to them, that’s relevant to them specifically, versus communicating something to the entire world that’s irrelevant.”
But Veldheer said that the consulting firms who interviewed with the township for the master plan project all recommended social media as a way of informing the public and generating input from residents.
The Township Board on Feb. 17 approved the hiring of Williams & Works to work with the township on developing the new master plan, at a cost of $31,780. A kickoff meeting to begin the process of developing the new plan is expected in late April, Eggleston said.
Eggleston will go back over the proposed policy to rewrite language following the board’s discussion, and may also have Township Attorney Ron Bultje review the document before it comes back before the board next month.
Zeeland Record
As Zeeland Township begins work on its master plan, the Township Board is considering whether it would be beneficial to create a social media page as a way of sharing information with its residents.
The board on March 17 spent nearly an hour debating a proposed social media policy that would guide the township in how it might use a potential Facebook or other social media account. No final decisions were made, but a majority of the board seemed to see value in having the township set up a Facebook page. The township Fire Department already has a Facebook page.
In a memo to the board, Township Manager Josh Eggleston wrote that the idea behind having a social media page would be to “improve accessibility, increase public engagement, better promote openness and transparency, build public confidence, promote good governance … provide timelier dissemination of important township information, and provide greater understanding and awareness of the township’s governmental process.”
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer sees Facebook as a way of informing residents of important information concerning them.
“I don’t look at our website, but I’m on Facebook,” Veldheer said. “(We can use it) when we want to (let people know about) a survey for our master plan or remind them that their taxes are due, that there’s a road closing, that elections are coming up or there’s a job opening.”
While not referring to the project by name, Veldheer also pointed out how residents have used Facebook to let their neighbors know about the proposed Silver Maple solar project.
“Residents are doing a better job of communicating with other residents and getting information out on Facebook … than we are,” she said.
Trustee John Schrauger questioned whether sharing township information via social media would be redundant, given the township is moving toward livestreaming of its meetings starting in April, and that it already has a website where board meeting packets and minutes can be found.
“Obviously, we should be using this platform, but how, and specifically, for what purpose?” Schrauger asked.
Trustee Dave Barry sees problems with the township having a social media presence, saying “these are platforms that are designed to capture your attention through negative means.”
“I think that’s a lot of time, effort and energy on a means that really has no social redeeming value,” Barry said. “I think we’re much better served by establishing an email list serve, capturing emails from our Zeeland Township residents through the tax rolls … push the content that we want to them, that’s relevant to them specifically, versus communicating something to the entire world that’s irrelevant.”
But Veldheer said that the consulting firms who interviewed with the township for the master plan project all recommended social media as a way of informing the public and generating input from residents.
The Township Board on Feb. 17 approved the hiring of Williams & Works to work with the township on developing the new master plan, at a cost of $31,780. A kickoff meeting to begin the process of developing the new plan is expected in late April, Eggleston said.
Eggleston will go back over the proposed policy to rewrite language following the board’s discussion, and may also have Township Attorney Ron Bultje review the document before it comes back before the board next month.
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