Weirton expanding its methods of alerting residents
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WEIRTON -- City officials are expanding their options when it comes to being able to alert residents of goings-on in the community.
While the City of Weirton has had the opportunity to send alerts through e-mail and text messaging for several years, those looking for voicemail notification, through either a cell phone or landline now also will have an opportunity.
"It's a one-call system," explained Mayor Dean Harris in announcing the change Monday afternoon.
Harris noted it was a situation his administration has been working on for the last few months, inspired, in part, by concerns of communication access during the city-wide water outages earlier this year.
In addition to alerts about water boil orders or sewer alerts, residents also may register to receive notifications for road closures, garbage and recycling information, administrative office closures, weather alerts, and street paving schedules.
The system can offer alerts to everyone registered, or can be narrowed down to reach specific areas of the city.
"This way we can get information to people where they are," Harris said. "It's important we have transparency."
To receive alerts through text messages only, residents may text "Weirton" to 38276.
For other methods, those interested are asked to go online to www.cityofweirton.com, and follow the directions to create an account.
Those who may have a family member with difficulty or lack of access to register online, may include those family members and their contact information under their own accounts.
Harris offered his appreciation to Information Technology Director Brian Stewart, Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam, and Administrative Assistant Brandy Brock for their work to negotiate the system with CivicPlus, the company administering the system.
Pulliam reinforced the point the city has had an alert system available for several years.
"Since 2016, we've actually been notifying our residents by text and email," she said, explaining approximately 1,000 individuals have been subscribed to that system.
Those existing subscribers already have been transferred to the expanded system, and information to assist in guiding residents to sign up will be included in the city's April billing statement.
Harris also wanted to make certain residents understand the system is being offered through the City of Weirton, and additional questions can be submitted by calling (304) 797-8500, extension 1018.