Sigourney Council Approves Building New Website, Promoting Deputy Clerk

SIGOURNEY – During the July 2 meeting of the Sigourney City Council, the council met with Humphrey Mwangi of Drive Technologies to discuss building a new website for the city. Mwangi stated that the city needed a modern, user friendly, accessible website. He noted that regulations require municipality websites be disability accessible and recommended the city make sure to have a mobile friendly website. Mwangi showed off a sample website for the city, including pages for agendas and minutes, to apply for permits, to pay bills online, to report problems, containing maps and directories, and a news and upcoming events section. Mwangi’s proposed costs included $7,000 to make the website, $2,000 for accessibility and $500 to train city employees to update the website. It also included an annual $400 hosting fee and $200 monthly maintenance cost. The council approved hiring Mwangi to make the new website.

The council approved promoting current Deputy City Clerk Ashley Fry to the position of City Clerk, effective November 1, when current clerk Angie Alderson will retire. Fry will be bumped up to a pay of $25 per hour, which will go up to $26 in November and increase by one dollar yearly over the next three years, as she takes classes to be certified. Fry was hired seven years ago, as an office assistant, and has been the deputy clerk for one year. The council also approved hiring Sherry Casper part time as a temp office assistant, for $20 per hour, until a new deputy clerk is hired and begun managing the office.