Count on the county

I was pleased when the editors of The Gwinnett Citizen asked me to write a regular column about the county government. As a 27-year employee, I believe I have some relevant experience especially in the financial and budget areas. For the last nine of those years, I served as the appointed County Administrator. After a brief retirement, I became an elected official for the first time in my life, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners since March 2011.

County government has changed a lot over those years

Charlotte Nash, Chairman Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners

and so has the county. Looking back, I can’t imagine how we ever functioned without computers and electronic communications.

Today, you can pay a water bill, property tax, or traffic ticket online. You can bid on used county vehicles and equipment, submit a job application, or view the latest issue of Gwinnett LIFE before registering for recreation classes and camps.

Computers make it easy to learn about and access government services. Even longtime residents may not know about the newest ways we’ve set up to communicate with the people of Gwinnett.

Our award-winning website – http://www.gwinnettcounty.com – helps you find all the new ways to interact with your county government online.

You can get a voter registration form, find your polling place, or request an absentee ballot online. You can report code violations or transportation issues; renew a vehicle tag or a business license; request building, development, or fire inspections; obtain a police report or crime map; register a security alarm; or sign up for the emergency preparedness training. You can also look up maps and property information through our GIS data browser.

Videos of commission meetings, budget presentations, and our biweekly news show Eye on Gwinnett are among many videos available on demand on our website. Our government access cable television channel, TVgwinnett, is also available live on the website, along with free email newsletters. You can sign up right from the home page at www.gwinnettcounty.com to receive county news right in your inbox. There’s even a property tax calculator that shows you exactly how we spend the county’s portion of your property tax.

All of these electronic services are available 24/7 from the convenience of your home or office – and we’re working to format them for smartphones and tablets. You’ll also find a huge amount of information including a detailed county budget, all county ordinances, and links to city and state government services.

We have invested in computer systems that make all of this possible and allow us to work smarter and more efficiently than ever. But even with all of this new technology, we still have well-trained, dedicated people to help you when you need us.

And of course, your elected officials want to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to let us know when something in county government merits praise or needs attention.