Program to send text message alerts to residents starting in Jeannette

Municipal information will soon be texted to interested Jeannette residents.

Council unanimously approved a one-year contract with Simple Texting for about $590.

“This is going to be used anytime there’s a change in garbage (collection) or important information,” said city manager Ethan Keedy. “Residents can sign up to receive text messages from the City of Jeannette.”

Administrative assistant Andrea Beneke brought up the option during council’s work session this week after residents complained they weren’t notified of garbage collection delays early in the week while city employees were busy clearing snow. The information was put on the city website and disseminated through social media, but it didn’t reach all residents, she said.

“We want to try this for a year to see if it is beneficial to the city and residents,” Keedy said.

Once the system gets set up, Beneke said she will offer a way for residents to sign up to receive messages.

“We have a lot of older residents that don’t use internet or cell phones and we have another part that do,” she said.

Depending on the resident’s cell phone plan and carrier, they may be charged for messages, Beneke warned.

“This will send them a text to their phone that says your garbage is delayed or this road is shut down or water main break or things like that,” she said.

The messaging service “is the most up and coming way to get information out for residents,” she told council. The messages can be sent from the online SimpleTexting program and will not require the purchase of a cell phone.

“We can get it set up and running as soon as possible,” Keedy said. “Then it would just be trying to get everybody to sign up.”

Garbage collection was back to normal on Thursday and Friday, according to the city website.