Dyer Town Hall
DYER — The town is looking to revamp its website and introduce a new app for residents at the start of the new year.Â
"We want to keep up with the technology and ... everybody's going to smartphone apps," Dyer Town Manager Tom DeGiulio said. "It's just time to freshen it up, and I think make it more usable for residents. That's what I hope to see out of it."
The town's current website is about 5 years old, said Frank Jachim, the town's information technology consultant.Â
Though the website's address will remain the same — www.townofdyer.com — Jachim said residents can expect a more modern site.Â
The new website also will be more responsive, making it accessible across devices, including desktops, smart phones and tablets.Â
The biggest focus, Jachim said, is getting information to residents.Â
"The goal is to provide a convenient means of connecting our residents and businesses with all the services, resources and key information that the town of Dyer has to offer ... to ensure our residents and businesses are as informed and engaged as possible," Jachim said in an email.Â
New services will be added to the website, including the ability to receive updates via email for town events, news, notices, projects and meetings, and in the future, online permit applications.Â
Also bring rolled out is a town app, available on both iPhone and Android, which will allow push notifications to be sent to users who have the app.Â
The mobile app also will allow residents to submit online service requests when they spot something broken around town that doesn't need an emergency repair, Jachim said.
"Say there's a streetlight out (and) you're near the streetlight, it's able to take that information more seamlessly; location information, interfacing with the camera," Jachim said. "It makes that whole process of submitting that service request a bit more intuitive and seamless."
Jachim hopes the new website and app, which the town has been working on for "quite a while," will be available by the start of 2021.Â
"We're trying to roll out as much as we can with the initial site, and then we'll be adding stuff as we move forward," Jachim said.Â
Gallery:Â The Times Photos of the Week
Masked-up Santa flies in to Crown Point
Santa arrives via a Lake County Sheriff's Department's helicopter at The Pointe in Crown Point on Saturday morning. Families were asked to remain at their vehicles to greet Santa before he boarded a trolley with Mrs. Claus for a parade through the city ending at the Old Lake County Courthouse downtown.
Masked-up Santa flies in to Crown Point
Mrs. Claus waves to families near their vehicles at The Pointe in Crown Point Saturday morning before the helicopter with Santa Claus lands.
Masked-up Santa flies in to Crown Point
Mila Mireles, 1, of Crown Point, watches with her parents Haley and Jose Mireles as Santa Claus arrives in Crown Point Saturday morning.Â
Masked-up Santa flies in to Crown Point
Santa Claus greets families at North and West Streets in Crown Point Saturday morning.
4A football state final: Hobart vs. Roncalli
Hobart's Riley Johnston, right, faces off with Roncalli's Andrew Baugh on Friday during the 4A state final at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
4A football state final: Hobart vs. Roncalli
Hobart's Zach Vode, left, is able to bring in a pass on Friday during the Class 4A state final at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
4A football state final: Hobart vs. Roncalli
Hobart's Jacob Simpson, above, and Zach Vode team up to take down Roncalli's Baron Huebler on Friday during the Class 4A state final at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
4A football state final: Hobart vs. Roncalli
Hobart's Riley Johnston, left, and Zach Vode look to the Brickies fans in the stands as the team's seniors hoist up the 4A runner-up trophy on Friday in Indianapolis. Hobart lost 49-7 to Roncalli.
Hammond holds inaugural tree lighting ceremony
Prior to the first ever holiday tree lighting ceremony, Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr., addresses the crowd outside of Hammond City Hall on Friday night.
Hammond holds inaugural tree lighting ceremony
Councilman Barry Tyler Jr. shares a few words at the podium prior to the inaugural holiday tree lighting ceremony at Hammond City Hall on Friday night.
Hammond holds inaugural tree lighting ceremony
Decorated with plenty of festive ornaments, Hammond's holiday tree was lit for the first time of the 2020 winter season on Friday night.
Hammond holds inaugural tree lighting ceremony
A member of the Hammond Academy of Performing Arts sings a solo holiday tune prior to the ceremonial tree lighting Friday at City Hall.
Hammond holds inaugural tree lighting ceremony
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., third from left, flips the switch to light the holiday tree outside of Hammond City Hall on Friday night.
Black Friday shoppers, Schererville Menard's
Shoppers fill an isle in the lighting department on Black Friday at the Menard’s store in Schererville.
Black Friday shoppers, Schererville Menard's
Shoppers fill the checkout lanes Friday at the Menards in Schererville.
Black Friday shoppers, Schererville Menard's
Shoppers wait in line at the Schererville Menards on Black Friday.
Black Friday shoppers, Schererville Menard's
Shoppers use the escalators at the Menards store in Schererville as customers grabbed up deals and filled their carts on Black Friday.
EC Salvation Army annual Thanksgiving dinner
People are reflected in pooled water outside the East Chicago Salvation Army during the annual Thanksgiving dinner distribution.
EC Salvation Army annual Thanksgiving dinner
People pick up beverages provided by Pepsi Cola Tuesday during the East Chicago Salvation Army annual Thanksgiving dinner distribution.
EC Salvation Army annual Thanksgiving dinner
Elisa King holds an umbrella for Paul Velez as they wait to pick up a Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday at the East Chicago Salvation Army.
EC Salvation Army annual Thanksgiving dinner
Angela Chinn, executive chef for Ameristar East Chicago, hands a dinner to a patron Tuesday at the Salvation Army in East Chicago.
Toys in the Attic toy store, Valpo
Jorie Miller works Wednesday at Toys in the Attic in Valparaiso.
Toys in the Attic toy store, Valpo
Chris Reddick and her husband Tim own Toys in the Attic in Valparaiso. Independent local toy shops have been cropping up across Northwest Indiana in the absence of a dominant corporate chain store. The Valparaiso Toys in the Attic offers a variety of contemporary and retro toys and more.
Toys in the Attic toy store, Valpo
Chris Reddick arranges board games on a shelf at Toys in the Attic in Valparaiso the she and husband Tim own. Independent local toy shops have been cropping up across Northwest Indiana in the absence of a dominant corporate chain store. The Valparaiso Toys in the Attic offers a variety of contemporary and retro toys and more.
Toys in the Attic toy store, Valpo
Shoppers browse for toys Wednesday at Toys in the Attic in Valparaiso. Independent local toy shops have been cropping up across Northwest Indiana in the absence of a dominant corporate chain store.
The Sikh Religious Society of Indiana distribute food donations
Satpal Singh, left, and Gurmeet Kaur from the Sikh Religious Society of Indiana drop off donated food to Diane Sieker, right, from the Center Township Trustee's office on Wednesday.
The Sikh Religious Society of Indiana distribute food donations
Hardarshan Singh Valia, left, talks to his young volunteers at the Sikh Religious Society of Indiana before they depart to distribute food for Thanksgiving.
The Sikh Religious Society of Indiana distribute food donations
Satpal Singh, left, and Gurmeet Kaur from the Sikh Religious Society of Indiana drop off donated food to the Center Township Trustee's office on Wednesday.
The Sikh Religious Society of Indiana distribute food donations
Young volunteers from the Sikh Religious Society of Indiana pause for a photo before heading out to distribute food for Thanksgiving.
Center Lounge free Thanksgiving Day dinners
Karen Anaszewicz, left, Robbin DeBeneditto and Pat McCartin prepare a takeout meal at Center Lounge in Whiting.
Center Lounge free Thanksgiving Day dinners
Allison Buell, left, and Shane Huffman bag dinners Thursday at the Center Lounge in Whiting.
Center Lounge free Thanksgiving Day dinners
Volunteers serve up Thanksgiving meals Thursday at Center Lounge in Whiting.
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Thanksgiving food baskets await distribution at Wicker Park in Highland on Monday, courtesy of Lake Area United Way and attorney Ken Allen.
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Jim Rosetti, of Westville, unloads a pallet of frozen turkeys, which were given away to residents Monday at Wicker Park in Highland.
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North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan, middle, is handed a frozen turkey from Pat Gopalakrishnan, right, of Munster at Wicker Park on Monday afternoon.
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Cindy Rivera, left, of Schererville, fist bumps Indiana State Representative for District 12, Mike Andrade, at Wicker Park in Highland on Monday during a food giveaway.
Gallery
Mary Freda
South Lake County Reporter
Mary Freda is the South Lake County reporter at The Times. She is a proud Ball State graduate, where she studied news journalism and Spanish. You can reach Mary at mary.freda@nwi.com or 219-853-2563.
