Press Release

Oakland County Web Site Puts Google to Work

Pontiac, Michigan, December 11, 2006 -- The award-winning Oakland County Web site www.oakgov.com just got easier to use.  The County recently implemented new search technology powered by Google, making government information and services even more accessible to its huge online population.

Oakland County's new search feature dramatically improves the experience of using a government Web site. Visitors to the County's site can now find what they need with just a few clicks.

Searches are now faster and more relevant, because pages on the County's site have been linked to common search words.Search results also include images, and the new Advanced Search function allows users to refine their searches by specific file format or other criteria. The process of looking for the right government department or agency has become a breeze.

"Oakland County is in the business of removing barriers to government services. We have a treasure trove of information on our Web site, and now it's easier than ever before to find what you need," said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

Oakland County Chief Information Officer and Deputy County Executive Phil Bertolini said, "The number of Oakland County citizens and businesspeople using our Web site is growing every day. They've told us they need to find the right information on our site fast. This new Google search is the best way we can help them do that."

To see the new Oakland County site search in action, visit www.oakgov.com and type search words into the Search box located in the upper right corner of every page. The new Advanced Search page is accessible via the question mark icon located to the right of the Search box.

Oakland County is the fourth most digitally advanced county in America among counties with populations of 500,000 or more, according to the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. Oakland County's eGovernment initiative (http://www.oakgov.com/egov) uses state-of-the-art technology to bring government together with citizens, businesses and educational communities.

Find out more about Oakland County online resources at http://www.oakgov.com.  For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Oakland County Media and Communications Officer, at 248-858-1048.