City council candidate Paul Hark is proposing that Inver Grove Heights improve its website technology to allow residents to conduct more business with the city online.

“I can bank and pay my bills online, buy clothes and order pizza online,yet I have to leave work early to buy a dog license at City Hall?” Hark said “There is no reason the city cannot allow basic transactions to be handled over the internet. City government needs to look for ways to be more efficient and also more convenient for residents. Using technology is one way to accomplish this."

In addition to purchasing or renewing dog licenses online, there are other transactions with the city that could be initiated online.

For example, the building permit process could be initiated online. Contractors seeking licensure from the City should also be given the option of initiating the application process online.

The use of technology in this manner, once implemented, can significantly reduce paperwork, cutback on staff time and create more efficient and convenient resident interaction with the city.