Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
29 <br /> 3. Utility Bill Stuffers —In January 2001, the City of Hickory launched its new <br /> utility bill. For many years, the City sent out postcard bills, but moved into the <br /> 21st century by sending out letter-sized bills with return envelopes. This new <br /> mailing format has also become a new PIO tool because it is able to add an 81/2 <br /> by 11"piece of paper to the mailing. The new utility bill has become a new <br /> avenue to convey information to all citizens and is an asset to the Public <br /> Information Office. Since July 2002, the City has inserted a flyer in the bill with <br /> information about city issues or concerns (for example, status of water availability <br /> and conservation suggestions, library activities, and litter sweep). <br /> Action Plan: <br /> ? August- September 2003 —Market the new stuffer format to City staff and <br /> agree on the name of the publication. So far the name is City Snippits. With <br /> the help of all departments, find tidbits of information to put on the stuffer that <br /> would benefit all citizens of Hickory, not just a small segment of the <br /> population. <br /> ? October- December 2003 —Put together topics that will fill the newsletter for <br /> until December 2004. Do this by meeting with fellow departments and by <br /> explaining what information can be used for City Snippits. The publication <br /> should be printed and published a month ahead of schedule and go over <br /> deadlines with departments. For example, the February issue will go out in <br /> the four January billings. This means that the February issue must be printed <br /> no later than the last week of December. This will be an ongoing project <br /> throughout each month, but establishing possible topics for the publication <br /> will make it an easier process. <br /> ? January 2004—Publish first City Snippits and have to the Collections <br /> Department by the last week of December. <br /> ? October—November 2004—Develop a City Snippits calendar for 2005. <br /> ? January 2005 —Measure the effectiveness of City Snippits by meeting with <br /> departments and finding out what, if any feedback they have gotten from the <br /> publication. <br /> ? October—November 2005 —Set calendar for calendar year 2006, and again <br /> measure the effectiveness of City Snippits by meeting with departments and <br /> finding out what, if any feedback they have gotten from the publication. <br /> Predicted cost of utility bill insert- $7,200 per year (includes printing and does <br /> not include staff time). <br /> 4. Neighborhood College—The PIO began Neighborhood College in 1998 as a way to <br /> educate citizens about its local government. A secondary reason for holding the <br /> citizens' academy was to increase interest in City government and educating citizens <br /> about City government and get them to serve on one of the City's 14 boards and <br /> commissions. In 2002, 35 of the 90 graduates either serve on a board or commission <br /> or are president or really active in their neighborhood or business association. It has <br /> been a successful program and won the prestigious Savvy award from 3CMA in 2001 <br /> for its community visioning process. <br /> 7 <br />