Du Quoin now offering text notifications

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Residents of Du Quoin now can receive text message update from the city.<br /> The new service, approved last week by the Du Quoin City Council, will allow citizens to receive notifications regarding boil orders, road closures and other issues of interest. It will not include weather alerts.<br /> Mayor Guy Alongi said he first learned of the existence of such a service from Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens.<br /> "I think it's a service that's pretty cheap to let people know what's going on," he said at last week's meeting.<br /> To sign up for the alerts, residents can text the word "DUQUOIN" in all capital letters to 33222. There is no charge for the service, although individual text-messaging charges may apply.<br /> The motion to begin the service with text-messaging company Textedly came to the council table last week, but Du Quoin EMA Director Doug Clark then told the council about EMA's agreement with Nixle, which Clark said may be a cheaper option. Council voted to authorize starting the text-messaging service, although they left determining the most cost-efficient option to City Clerk Andrew Croessman.<br /> Croessman said Friday that he contacted Nixle, and the annual cost was said to be $3,000 plus a $400 setup fee. Croessman said the city opted to contract with Textedly for an annual cost of $660.</span></span>