The village of Harwood Heights is launching an updated version of its website, offering new services to residents including email and text message alerts and eventually online payments for some bills.
Mayor Arlene Jezierny said the updated website at www.harwoodheights.org will go live Monday, offering residents a more organized experience for navigating village news and resources.
Residents will be able to sign up to receive email and text message alerts, in addition to the automated call service the village now uses.
A button on the homepage will direct residents to a form where they can submit their personal information, including their name, address, cellphone number and email addresses.
Once the village has that data, important messages will be sent out electronically to residents who live in certain areas.
Any calls, texts or emails will need to be assigned to an address, so that alerts will only go to residents in affected areas, Village Board members said.
Text message alerts will likely be reserved for emergencies, Jezierny said.
The Mayor’s Message, a newsletter sent out by Jezierny, will now go out in an email in addition to being sent in the mail.
The newsletter hits on key topics people want to know about, Jezierny said, including critical issues such as changes to bills or parking, and helpful information such as upcoming classes offered at the village’s recreational center.
Another new feature on the website will be the point-and-pay system, which will allow residents to pay their water, sewage and garbage bills online using a credit card, rather than coming in to Village Hall.
Online payments won’t be accepted right away, but the point-and-pay option should be up and running by the end of the May, Jezierny said. There will be a $2 convenience fee for all online payments.
The launch of the point-and-pay system will be announced with a notice on residents’ water bills and in the next Mayor’s Message newsletter.
