New website launches after major redesign

Perry Village Council was able to scratch one more item off of its to-do list for 2018 when the village’s new website made its debut on Oct. 7.

Perryvillageohio.com is the online location of the website, which replaced perryvillage.info. The launch marked the culmination of a six-week redesign project performed for the village by Lake Metro Web.

Village Council, at an Aug. 23 meeting, selected Willoughby-based Lake Metro Web to provide design, hosting and maintenance services for the village’s website. It marked the third time in recent years that council had contracted the services of a website designer and consultant. The two previous attempts failed to produce a website that met village officials’ expectations in key areas such as creativity, ease of navigation, and usefulness to residents and businesses.

After approving the latest contract, Perry Village administrators and council members worked to secure information and visual content that Lake Metro Web owner Jerry Spradlin added to the new website.

Mayor James Gessic took photographs and gathered other pictures, such as those of village landmarks and the village’s Police and Public Works departments.

Councilman Phil Cassella, meanwhile, conducted research on village history, while Zoning Inspector Jim Watson provided a zoning map and a zoning permit application.

When council held its latest meeting on Oct. 11, members of the panel and village administrators seemed pleased with the appearance, format and content of the new website.

Visitors to perryvillageohio.com will notice that the site provides more detailed information on village departments. People who want to learn more about the village itself can look under the website’s “About Us” section, then scroll down to and click on the Overview Profile. That section contains the village’s mission and vision statements, and information on community services and village demographics. The website also features a photo gallery with pictures of the village’s Police Department, Lee Lydic Park and community landmarks.

Other sections of the website are still being developed, including a business directory, and council meeting agendas and minutes.

When Gessic asked village leaders if they heard any feedback on the website from the general public, Watson shared comments he received during a telephone call.

The zoning inspector said he was talking with a woman from a Florida company who called to inquire about the village’s new ordinance for registration of vacant houses and buildings. The woman mentioned that she had visited Perry Village’s new website, so Watson asked for her first impressions.

Overall, the woman said she liked the website, especially because it was very easy to navigate, Watson noted.

“To me, that was the big shining star that came out of that conversation,” he said.