Clark County starts Facebook page

Clark County created its first social media page recently as a way to interact with the public and provide updates about local county government.

Residents can like the new page by searching Clark County, Ohio on Facebook, Commissioner Melanie Flax Wilt said.

“It’s a way for us to share information but to also receive feedback,” she said. “That hasn’t been available to the public in that simple of a manner in the past.”

READ MORE: Clark County Health District: Neighbors should take steps to stop Zika

The page will be used to share photos and other updates, both within the government and the community, she said.

“It will be an important means of sharing headlines the county’s making and news and information,” Flax Wilt said.

Residents currently have to access the county’s website or read the newspaper to find out information about certain projects, she said. The Facebook page is a way for people and prospective businesses to ask questions and regularly seek information about what’s happening here, Flax Wilt said.

Last month, county commissioners approved a social media policy as a due diligence measure, Flax Wilt said.

“Many of the concerns that we may have are things the public has moved past,” she said. “Most of our residents are quite accustomed to using social media, and a lot of those things are self-policed,” she said.

MORE COVERAGE: 4 Clark County women celebrated as extraordinary

The policy also opens the door for other departments to pursue social media, Flax Wilt said.

“I hope we’ve set up the framework that will allow our departments to set something up,” she said. “Whether or not each area wants to manage their own, either way, we’ll have a means of communicating information for them.”

The Facebook page could be a stepping stone to other social media sites, like Twitter or YouTube, but a broader public information strategy will likely be put in place first, Flax Wilt said.

“I think this is one small tactic to do that,” Flax Wilt said.

About the Author