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2014 Mi-GMIS Annual Fall Conference Award Winners


Berrien County Named Best Website

 
2014 Website Winner 
The award was accepted by Kenneth Hoffman, Information Systems, Berrien County.
 (Howell, MI) – Berrien County’s website was awarded the Best Website of 2014 by Mi-GMIS at their annual fall conference.   Government agencies were honored for their achievements in making local government advancements in technology.
 

The Best Website Award honors the government agency that offers residents and visitors a unique, distinctive or exceptional experience when visiting the agency’s website.   Berrien County’s website was chosen for its ease of access to current information on a 24/7 basis for residents, businesses and visitors.   In addition to the main County pages, special effort was put into updating the Sheriff’s Department, Health Department and Parks pages. 

 

“The smooth integration of links from the site to the County’s Facebook, Flickr and YouTube pages along with webcam and video images of the beauty of SW Michigan combine to give all users an informative web experience that highlights the great things Berrien County has to offer,”  says Steven Sedore, President of Mi-GMIS.

 
 
Coldwater Board of Public Utilities City of Coldwater Awarded Best IT Project
 
(Howell, MI) – The Coldwater Board of Public Utilities City of Coldwater was awarded the Best IT Project of 2014 by Mi-GMIS at their annual fall conference.   Government agencies were honored for their achievements in making local government advancements in technology.
 

The Best IT Project Award honors the government agency that shows resourceful initiatives, cost savings measures or an innovative IT solution to a problem.   The Coldwater Board of Public Utilities City of Coldwater was given the award  for consolidating local government services and data by offering a countywide community GIS project after receiving a $420,000 CGAP grant from the State of Michigan. Entities involved include Branch County 911, the Villages of Quincy and Union City, the City of Bronson and the Branch County Road Commission.  Water, wastewater and storm water collection systems are digitized and the City of Coldwater will warehouse and maintain the data to serve up through a web browser for these agencies which otherwise would not have the staff or resources to do so on their own.  

According to Chad Burke, GIS and Mapping Coordinator at the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities City of Coldwater, future plans for the GIS project are to provide citizens with county parcel data/assessing data, city information and points of interest and genealogy/cemetery records search. 

 

“The Coldwater Board of Public Utilities City of Coldwater GIS project provides its communities with rapid data retrieval for more effective decision making and supports  their record keeping with the most current technology,” said Steven Sedore, President of Mi-GMIS.
  
The award was accepted by Chad Burke, GIS and Mapping Coordinator at the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities City of Coldwater.
 
 
Dan Putman, Information Systems Director for the City of Livonia, Receives IT Professional Award
 
2014 IT Professional Winner 
The award was accepted by Dan Putman, Information Systems Director for the City of Livonia.
(Howell, MI) – Dan Putman, Information Systems Director for the City of Livonia, received the 2014 IT Professional Award by Mi-GMIS at their annual fall conference.   Government agencies were honored for their achievements in making local government advancements in technology.
 
The 2014 IT Professional Award honors the government agency information technology professional who exemplifies the qualities, skills and leadership necessary to provide  local government with current, effective IT solutions to support its citizens and employees. 
 
Mr. Putman has worked in information technology for 33 years, the last 29 years spent in government IT working in both a county and city agency.  He has been a past Board Member of Mi-GMIS and MAGCU (predecessor of Mi-GMIS) and was a past President of MACGU.  He is a graduate of Ferris State College with an Associates degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Data Processing.
 
Mr. Putman established the first IT Department for the City of Livonia, developing the City’s computer network and the standards for IT operations and City software.  His department has overseen the development of the City’s website and consists of a staff of five.  The City currently serves a community of just under 100,000 residents. 
 
“Under Dan’s leadership, the City of Livonia’s IT department  is widely recognized as a well run example of government IT functions.  He has long been a leader in our organization and continues to be one by being involved in various IT groups with the State of Michigan and establishing a quarterly lunch meeting of IT Directors in SE Michigan.  It is an honor to give this award to Dan Putman,” said Steve Sedore, President of Mi-GMIS. 
 
Mi-GMIS is the state chapter of the international Government Management Information Science organization with members drawn from villages, cities, townships, counties and the State of Michigan.  Mi-GMIS is committed to supporting its members in meeting the challenges governments face from an ever growing dependence on technology and applying current information technology productively and efficiently to foster effective government on all levels across the State of Michigan.