Charles County’s electronic face recently received a makeover. Today, the Board of Commissioners approved the launch of the newly redesigned Charles County Web site www.CharlesCounty.org

Visitors to the Web site will now encounter a streamlined site design, which has more user-friendly navigation and layout, a softer color scheme, and updated graphics and photos. Content has not been changed, but the layout and structural site updates will allow for easier access to all information.

A short tour of the county’s newly redesigned Web site was presented to the Commissioners today by the Department of Fiscal & Administrative Services Information Technology Division. County officials expect that the improved navigation of the web site will increase the use of the site as a source for official County news by residents.

“We are excited to go live with the redesigned Charles County Web site, which was created with the top priority being an informative, useful site for the general public,” said Commissioner President Wayne Cooper. “One of our ongoing commitments as a Board of Commissioners is to improve communication with residents. “The revamped Web site will make it easier for the public to stay informed about County programs, services, news, and other important information.”

From the homepage, visitors to the Charles County Government Web site will now be able to access a left-column navigation that is service-focused. This navigation runs consistently throughout the site’s pages. Site visitors are also able to easily access a complete department index of services by clicking the Department link located at the top of each page. The index of services pages includes a brief description of the services offered by each department as well as contact information and links to those department’s respective web pages.

A new feature has been added to the County's web page called Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). This knowledge base consists of over 250 of the most asked questions and answers in 35 categories and can be accessed by selecting the animated icon on the front web page providing viewers 24/7 access to information concerning County Government operations and services.

“Since its inception, the Web site has grown tremendously in terms of information that is offered. As the site evolves, our #1 goal remains to stay abreast of the latest Internet technology to make the Web site more comprehensive, user-friendly, and accessible for people who visit, live, work or just have an interest in what's happening in Charles County,”
said Richard Aldridge, Chief Information Officer.

The new Web site is completely based on the newest table-less technology, which is more browser-friendly. The site is compatible with all of the most widely used browser types.

The public is invited to explore the newly redesigned Web site at www.CharlesCounty.org and is encouraged to visit often.