Trustees considering app for virus updates

Painesville Township trustees are considering using CARES Act funding to generate a COVID-19 emergency application.

The idea was discussed at the township trustees meeting on Nov. 4.

Township Administrator Mike Manary said the app would be designed to communicate with township residents on novel coronavirus information such as local outbreaks or county color codes.

“It’s to improve our communication with our residents,” he said. “We could use it for announcing COVID related health alerts or warnings.”

Township Trustee Gabe Cicconetti said the app would address possible confusion that residents have regarding coronavirus information.

“Everybody has questions about what’s going on,” he said. “The app would give our community a place to access Lake County Health District information as well as direct feeds from the CDC.”

Cicconetti said the information would range from local to national information.

Cicconetti said the app could also act as a tool to keep the local community informed on emergencies such as accidents or floods. He said it could even allow local first responders “to have access to their search sections.”

Cicconetti said residents would be able to download the app from general app stores such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

“It’s going to be free for members to download and be quick and easy to put on their phones,” he said.

The app’s cost for development and creation would be $12,000 of CARES Act Funding and “$5,000 of that is the yearly fee for managing and maintaining and hosting the app,” he said.

Cicconetti said the trustees will have to make a decision at their Nov. 17 meeting.

“Everybody has questions about what’s going on,” he said. “The app would give our community a place to access Lake County Health District information as well as direct feeds from the CDC.” — Gabe Cicconetti, Painesville Township trustee