What's happening in Princeton?

PRINCETON — Communication is the key to understanding and to good relations between city officials and residents, according to Princeton City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh.

Fiegenschuh announced he is starting a city manager blog site and an interactive online chat to give residents a format in which they can learn about and discuss city issues and projects.

"I think it's important that we develop ways to provide our residents with the information that affects them," Fiegenschuh said. "We work for them. The city has a lot of projects going on, some big and some small, and our residents have the right to know what we are doing with taxpayer money."

Fiegenschuh said there has also been some misconceptions and misinformation floating around about certain projects or issues. By providing as many ways as possible to communicate the facts and correct information, those misconceptions and misinformation can be cleared up, he said.

"Whatever I can do to get the public as much accurate information as possible is what I want to do," Fiegenschuh said.

To promote that open communication, Fiegenschuh said he will also continue to have community coffees where residents can meet with him to learn about city projects, to ask questions and to discuss concerns. He will also continue to send out quarterly newsletters to  residents.The new blog and online chat time are just two more ways to provide information to the public and to enter into a dialogue with them.

Fiegenschuh will start the new blog on July 17 with his comments on certain projects or issues. He will let the public respond for a couple weeks and then post another blog on a new topic. The blog Web address is http://blog.princeton-il.com.

The online chat will give residents a forum in which to type questions and comments for the city manager and receive answers back. The online chat will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, beginning July 24. The live chat address is http://live.princeton-il.com.

City department heads will also have information available for the public through the blog and chat sites.

Working with Fiegenschuh has been Andy Carlson, technology manager for the city. The developing use of multi-media is an exciting opportunity for the city and its residents, he said.