The Town of Lincoln is modernizing its online services with a $725,000 provincial grant.
The funds, accessed through the government of Ontario’s Municipal Modernization Program, will be used to deliver on a plan created by the town that lays out modern digital services, such as self-serve technologies, to residents and businesses. It seeks to improve efficiency, simplify business processes, deliver good in-person and digital customer service practices, and offer more opportunities for remote work.
“This is the start of a strategy that will position the Town of Lincoln with a well-deserved reputation for using technology to digitally interact with our residents, businesses, and partnering agencies,” said Mike Kirkopoulos, Lincoln’s Chief Administrative Officer.
The Municipal Modernization Program was created to support small and rural municipalities in Ontario in providing modern and efficient services to their communities.
Councillor Mike Mikolic, Chair of the General Business & Finance Committee, said: “This funding will allow us to implement technologies that will drive service delivery efficiencies that will immensely benefit our residents and businesses.”
The town’s modernization plan was first introduced during a committee meeting Sept. 8 and was approved by Lincoln council a week later. It was created in collaboration with an IT consulting firm, Perry Group Consulting.
Below are some of the services that are part of the new plan:
- Applications for planning, development & building permits
- Book building and property inspections
- Apply for a license
- Submit a request for municipal services (e.g. fix a streetlight, fill a pothole)
- Submit a by-law complaint
- Simplified payment for property taxes, utility bills, accounts and by-law infraction notices
- Register for recreation programs
- Book town facilities
- Purchase a fire burn permit
- Purchase a fire incident report
Kirkopoulos also noted that some of these services are currently available online but are not “true self-service and end-to-end processes.” For example when requesting that a pothole be filled. Residents can fill an online form to have it filled but will have to check for themselves if it has been completed.
More Info:
Original Lincoln media release
Municipal Modernization Program