CARY, NC – Less than a month after adding audio recordings of Town Council meetings to the web, the Town of Cary today launched its first version of Maps Online, a tool created to provide quick, convenient access to the Town’s vast collection of geographic information about Cary. Using Maps Online, citizens can locate a variety of structures in Cary including parks, greenways, schools, landmarks, and shopping centers as well as the post office, hospital, fire stations, and Town Hall. In addition, citizens can track important Town business that affects them such as rezonings as well as see voting districts and precincts. Maps Online also allows for desktop research on comprehensive property information provided by Wake County; search by address or property owner’s name to see property lines and structures and learn property sizes and values.

"Maps Online gives citizens access to public information that we’ve been collecting and using for years," said Town of Cary Public Information Officer Susan Moran. "Whether you’re new to the area and trying to learn your way around or have been here for years and just want to learn a little more about what might be happening near you, Maps Online can help you know your community better."

Designed for the Town of Cary by WebGIS consultants Anderson & Associates, Inc. of Blacksburg, Virginia at a cost of $3350, Town staff is already working with A&A on Version 2—scheduled for release by June 2001--which will feature an even more user-friendly interface as well as more data layers for creating your won custom maps.

The Town continues to work towards adding online utility billing and online parks, recreation & cultural resources registration. All of this is in addition to the third major overhaul of the site to be completed this fiscal year, designed to move the site to a topic-based orientation. With about 55,000 files and nearly 1,000 hits a day from more than 40 countries, the Town of Cary’s site is today a leader in local government web services.

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