Text messaging showing its value

Union County Recorder Katie Carlton told the board of supervisors Monday the county’s text-messaging service is entering its third year and has been worth the effort and cost.

Those who want to be informed of dates and information regarding Union County operations, that information can be sent to a smartphone.

Two years ago supervisors approved a proposal by Carlton to implement a text-message program between county departments and residents. Using the services from Fuller Digital Solutions, people will be able to receive notification through a text message on their smartphone about a county department.

Since its inception in Union County those who participate receive various messages from election information, ATV registration renewal information or deadlines for property taxes. Carlton said having this service is a great, cost effective alternative to using the post office. In the two years, Carlton said there have been about 9,000 messages sent, but it has a unique calculation. The number of participants is multiplied by one message. For example, if there are 250 users and one message is sent, it’s counted as 250 messages.

“We are not flooding people’s phones with messages,” Carlton said after the meeting.

The county pays $49 a month for the service. Carlton said the county is using the basic service. There are limitations on the number of messages allowed in a time frame, which can be increased.

“People are paying thousands for this,” Carlton said about other similar operations in other places.

Those interested in joining are asked to text the phrase Union88 to the number 59925. They may also ask Carlton in her office in the courthouse.

In other technology-related news, Carlton said state legislation is researching a statewide fraud prevention program. There have been attempts for scams using a person’s property deed or other legal document without the rightful owner knowing.

Carlton said she has agreed on a new printer for her office which started a discussion among supervisors if all the county’s printers and copiers could be under the same service agreement which could be more cost effective. Each department’s copier is under a different agreement.