About GreatNet

GreatNet

GreatNet is a web-based intranet platform that links the nine villages on the Great Neck peninsula, the Town of North Hempstead, the Great Neck School district, the Great Neck Park district, other special districts, our three fire departments, OEM, and more, all on one common space.

GreatNet has two main components. The first is an internet site, for the general public. This contains a peninsula wide calendar so residents can see events and activities in any village or special district. It allows notices to be posted for health or safety warnings, unscheduled school closings, road repairs, or anything else that may affect the quality of life in the area. This is a perfect tool to promote community events. Because GreatNet will receive high web-traffic from people living in the region, it is an ideal forum for organizations to promote their events in real time. To assist the businesses in the region, there are quick links to the Chamber of Commerce and the BID. GreatNet will be updated regularly and quickly, so residents will check the site frequently for news, events and emergency notifications. It will promote an atmosphere of community throughout the peninsula. There are also links from this site to any village or municipal entity on the peninsula that has its own website, so the residents can access information or forms that affect their specific area. Additional links are provided for other relevant and helpful websites, such as LIRR, Long Island Bus, or weather channel, as well as a comprehensive listing of important phone numbers by category. There is a listing of elected officials and a directory of villages with addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

The second component of GreatNet is a secure section, which is a web-based intranet for village officials and special district officers. This password protected section allows village mayors, trustees, commissioners and officers to communicate amongst each other and discussissues of concern. It also allows officials to post public notices or enter events on the public community –wide calendar. It allows officials to maintain a dialog with other municipal entities that may affect them, so that everyone is aware of projects and events that are in the planning stage. For example, if one municipality is applying for a grant, another may join in the grant or do their own using this as a model. Another use may be for one municipality that is making a large purchase of supplies or equipment to find out if others want the same and try to create a larger order for volume discounts. In addition, it will greatly assist in the sharing of resources available on the peninsula, through the incorporated peninsula wide equipment inventory that will not only list the available equipment but detailed contact information as well. There is a forum section, for village officials and special district officers to have a secure platform to discuss issues of concern in real time. There is also a projects section, where the municipalities can post details of projects that they have completed successfully, or projects that they wish to undertake. In this way, other entities can use this as a model for their own similar projects, or share the expertise of other members.

GreatNet will save the peninsula money, improve the quality of life for the residents and commuters, foster a spirit of cooperation among the separate entities that exist in the area, improve efficiency, and enhance a sense of community that is so vital to our region.