Blawnox unveils new website

Blawnox council is keeping its promise to provide better communication with residents through a newly unveiled website.

The site, blawnox.com, debuted this week and is designed to be more user-friendly, officials said.

Residents can pay utility bills, report concerns and view council meeting minutes.

“The borough had received a grant from the state in 2017 to update our technology and to bring Blawnox into the 21st century,” Acting Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said.

Blawnox was awarded $121,500 for tech upgrades through the Department of Community and Economic Development.

In addition to the new website, money was slated to pay for new computers and software.

Approval of the state grant was helped by the borough’s participation in 2017 in the state’s Early Intervention Program.

Consultant Deb Grass conducted the study of Blawnox finances and said recommendations were made to install a resident notification system and upgrade the borough website to make it more user-friendly.

Ulanowicz said council made the website a priority.

“It’s accessible for residents and has a fresh new look,” she said.

It replaces a site that didn’t provide up-to-the-minute information about borough business and was rarely updated.

Ulanowicz said the site is aimed at providing the public with a greater glimpse into municipal government.

Some of the site’s features include tabs to access permit applications and request rentals for the Blawnox Community Park and Pavilion.

Residents can also quickly access water and sewage rates, recycling schedules and quick links to state legislators’ offices.

Also new is a section where visitors can directly email council president and vice-president Deb Laskey and Randy Stoddard, along with Mayor Tony Gross, code enforcement officer Mallori McDowell and Fire Chief George McBriar.