Cass County to unveil new centralized website
Previously, Cass County Courts and Prosecutor’s Office maintained separate websites from the main County site. When the new site launches November 5, Courts information, as well as the County Prosecutor’s Office, will become part of the County website, allowing users to navigate between County departments, elected offices, public safety and court services without moving between separate websites.
Finding information and services from Cass County’s various government offices will soon be easier, with the launch of a newly redesigned and consolidated County website on November 5.
The project brings Cass County departments, the Sheriff’s Office, Courts and Prosecutor’s Office together under one website, creating a more consistent experience for residents looking for information, services, forms, contacts and other resources online.
Previously, Cass County Courts and Prosecutor’s Office maintained separate websites from the main County site. When the new site launches November 5, Courts information, as well as the County Prosecutor’s Office, will become part of the County website, allowing users to navigate between County departments, elected offices, public safety and court services without moving between separate websites.
“The work done by Marketing & Communications, IT, Administration, the Sheriff’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Courts to make this happen is very appreciated,” said Chief Judge Carol M. Bealor. “We are fortunate to have leadership that recognizes how much more we can do for the citizens we serve when we work together instead of working in individual silos. It is wonderful to see the collaboration efforts that continue to occur across Cass County to make it easier for the public to access and utilize needed services.”
The project was completed as part of Cass County’s contract with website provider CivicPlus and included design refreshes for the main County website and Sheriff’s Office pages, as well as the integration of the Courts website.
While CivicPlus provided the new design framework, County staff spent months working behind the scenes to review, reorganize and update website content with a focus on accessibility, usability and the way residents use County services today.
The updated site features a more modern, mobile-friendly design, simplified navigation and a more consistent visual identity across County government. Content was also reviewed with accessibility in mind as Cass County continues its work to improve access to digital information and services for users of all abilities.
Although the websites are now connected through one cohesive design, visual distinctions will help visitors understand which area of County government they are navigating. County departments and the offices of the Clerk/Register, Treasurer and Drain Commissioner will feature a green navigation bar. Sheriff’s Office pages and its divisions will use brown, while Cass County Courts pages will use blue.
“Transparency and accessibility are priorities for Cass County, and this redesign reflects our continued commitment to both,” said County Administrator Jennifer Rentfrow. “We want our residents to be able to easily find the information and services they need. I’m proud of the work that has gone into making these improvements possible.”
The redesigned site also gives departments greater flexibility to organize information around the needs of residents rather than simply mirroring the internal structure of County government. Throughout the project, staff reviewed outdated information, reorganized pages, updated documents and links, and looked for opportunities to make commonly requested services easier to locate.
The November 5 launch represents the first step rather than the end of that work. County staff will continue reviewing and improving website content after launch as services, programs and community needs change.
Residents who have bookmarked individual pages may find that some links have changed as part of the restructuring. However, the Courts website will be accessible through its previous URL (casscourtsmi.org). Visitors are encouraged to begin at the County homepage (casscountymi.org) or the Sheriff’s homepage (ccso.info) and use the updated navigation or search function to locate information.
If users encounter issues while navigating the updated website, they are encouraged to notify County staff at https://www.casscountymi.org/FormCenter/Contact-Us-5/Contact-Us-47.
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