Computer Innovation Award Is Presented

The adjectives “smart” and “innovative” seldom follow the word “government” these days, but that’s how a group promoting greater public access to the Internet recently described Ventura County.

“It’s not common seeing a government spearhead public access to its services,” said Timothy Tyndall, executive editor of the RAIN Network, which helps computer users in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties access the Internet. “We thought that was worth recognition.”

Last week, Tyndall presented the county with its Smart Villager Award for its “smart, innovative use of technology to better our community.” The plaque was affixed to a recycled circuit board.

Last fall, Ventura County became the first local government agency in the region to become more accessible to the public by posting job openings, meeting agendas and other information on the Internet.

Mark Wachtmann, a Ventura County technical services manager, accepted the award and said the county is not resting on its laurels. “We’re looking at ways to enable people to apply for a license or fill out a job application via the Internet.”