Today we’re taking the wraps off our newest project – our new Government Contacter.

I’ve read both good and bad ideas on local blogs about ways to improve Erie. It’s easy to suggest change, it’s hard to actually get the ball rolling and get things accomplished. Today, we’re making getting that ball started a little easier.

Our Government Contacter is a one-stop shop where you can easily pick which elected officials you would like to send an email to. We’ve gone and gathered up all the officials, grouped them by office, and made a nice, easy-to-use form. You write the letter, we send the email. Easy.

Here’s a great example. The Fuhrman’s Cider Mill wants to rebuild their mill. According to the Erie Times-News, they must seek a zoning variance. They’ve been in business for over 100 years. On February 27, their case will come up before the Millcreek Township Zoning Commission. You can use our Government Contacter to email any or all of the Millcreek Township supervisors to encourage them to allow the variance.

Currently, we’ve got Erie City Council, Erie County Council, City of Erie Government, Erie County Government, Millcreek Township Supervisors, Fairview Township Supervisors and Harborcreek Supervisors in the system. If you have a suggestion of a group to add, or don’t see your municipal officials in the system, email me and I’ll add them.

For some reason, the Millcreek and Erie school boards don’t publish their email addresses but I’m hoping to add them in the next day or so. Dr. Barker is listed in the Erie School Board category, so you can contact him.

This is just phase one of the project. I’m working on a whole social networking layer to the tool, but this Fuhrman’s news motivated me to stop sitting on it and get it out there and let people use it. If you try it out and have comments or suggestions, please email me.