Moose Jaw may have an online presence and make sparing use of social media, but it could be doing a better job, Mayor Deb Higgins told the Times-Herald Wednesday.
“I think we are involved to a certain extent (online), but I think from the city’s perspective we could probably be a little more proactive, and more active online,” she said. “We could be more proactive and use it more to our advantage ... whether through social media, or through websites that talk about our initiatives.”
Higgins mentioned the use of social media and releases through the city’s website to alert Moose Javians about snow removal operations as one potential option for stepping up online involvement.
“(We could be) sending out notices of where we’re doing work ahead of time, so people are aware not to park on a street, or that there will be street cleaning in certain areas,” Higgins said. “I know we do some of it, but I think we could be doing more. We’d really have to sit down and have a look at it and what mediums people use.”
The mayor said council has been giving consideration to more online involvement — so much so that it is discussing setting aside an allotment to fund a position for city communications.
“There is a proposal within the budget, and I think that for each of us ... it will need to be defined if it is approved, and we will need to look at areas that need to be focused on,” Higgins said.
But, Higgins said, the city will need to stay connected across existing mediums even as it gears up on the electronic front.
“I think (social media) is a part, but it’s not the only part that needs to be considered,” she said. “We still get letters, which is pretty unusual for some segments of the population, and phone calls to the office, too. Those are still important. We have to give consideration to all of it.”
Regarding her own involvement on social media, Higgins said, “I’m forever monitoring my Twitter account. I’ve basically set it up and use it to keep track of news sites and what’s going on in other areas ... I usually check it every day.”
About her lack of active tweeting, however, she said, “I’m a little more of a cautious person, and I’m not entirely comfortable tweeting during meetings and tweeting on impulse.”
“I am looking into being more active on it, but I’m not making any commitments at this time,” Higgins said.
