Washington County's latest leap into the labyrinth of technology has finally put its Web site on par with many of its neighbors in southwestern Pennsylvania, but a survey of other county Web sites shows more could be done.

The county prothonotary and register of wills recently went online with an electronic retrieval system that can tap wills and civil court records going back to 1988. For now, the service is free, but those who want to use the system must download an application and mail it or drop it off at the prothonotary's office. By next year, there will be a fee assessed for the service, and the office needs contact information for users, said Prothonotary Phyllis Ranko Matheny. The fee will offset the cost of the service.

Since introducing the feature on Sept. 4, Ms. Ranko Matheny said it's been a huge success, with more than 100 people registering. After an application is received, a password is sent to the user, usually within two or three days, she said.

"We have had no complaints," said Ms. Ranko Matheny. "We are really happy with it."

The county's recorder of deeds office also is in the process of taking the plunge into remote record retrieval with a system that will be online soon.

Even with all the advances, however, the county is lacking some basic information on its Web site, such as the minutes of commissioner's meetings and a copy of the county budget, which are standard on many county Web sites. Some also offer online access to bids, contracts and resolutions which have been passed.

Commissioner Diana Irey said those items aren't available because they are rarely requested by taxpayers.

"Nobody has asked for those things," she said.

Peters sets the standard

Some of the county's own municipalities are surpassing it for online data.

Peters, the most populated municipality in the county with around 20,000 residents -- about 10 percent of the county total -- has a Web site that provides a copy of the annual budget and meeting minutes with the tap of a key. But the site goes much further, posting meeting agendas before meetings take place.

A companion document, the meeting "fact sheet," provides explanations for items on the agenda, and residents are able to view the entire meeting docket -- the same one provided to council members -- online. The file can be huge, up to 200 or more pages. But a high-speed connection downloads it within about a minute.

The site offers forms galore and Peters televises meetings which are viewed on a local cable access channel.

That was due largely to the efforts of former councilman and current county commissioner candidate Mike Neville, who wants to see commissioner's meetings televised as well.

"The big picture is open government," said Mr. Neville.

As the most affluent municipality in the county, Peters has had little trouble funding its Web site, which provides home-page access to upcoming community programs and current events with no search required.

The Washington County site, however, lists one indoor craft show at the county Health Center in October under "current county news," although the county has a number of upcoming popular fall festivals, including this weekend's Covered Bridge Festival.

It also offers activities at historic sites, like the David Bradford house, a central location during the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Meadowcroft Rock Shelter, the oldest known site of human habitation in North America.

When the county began developing the Web site, Mrs. Irey said, a committee was formed to figure out what links should be included and to determine what the public wanted.

She said a link to the county tourism agency should be on the home page, and said one would probably be available soon.

"We have to make sure it's not overly cluttered," she said of the Web site.

Greene switches on

The Greene County Web site features more than 100 links on its home page and is chock full of timely information and updates on everything from family reunions, county fair results and the status of various economic development projects.

Users can find not only county officials with ease, but can look up listings of past county officials going back more than 100 years.

The county is working on making deeds available online, and the Web site includes a great deal of information and guidelines about deeds and wills and how to create them.

There's even a special section for outdoor enthusiasts where fishing licenses can be purchased online.

Like Greene, Fayette County has one information technology person who handles the county computer system along with the Web site.

Still, Fayette has a plethora of forms available online, like applications for health benefits for veterans, tax forms and many others.

The county's records manager, Colleen Sutherland, said records dating back to the early 1700s are scattered throughout the courthouse and other locations in the county.

Just in the past 19 months, Mr. Sutherland said he's worked on finding and organizing files from the clerk of courts office. He is moving on to other county offices, but it likely will be a long time before the records are available online.

"I'm it," he said. "I'm the only person in the records office. Our big problem is space. There are records all over the place."

Departments vary

Washington has a seven-member information technology staff which follows the requests of department heads and commissioners when it comes to Web site content.

"We provide the technical expertise, but they have to tell us what they need and want," said Donald Cortese, assistant director of information technology.

Every department can administer its own Web page, Mr. Cortese said, and records and services have become a priority these days.

Department independence is evident as the county's Planning Commission and Public Safety departments have two of the better Web pages in the region, with maps, useful links, applications and hotlines.

On the other hand, there is little information provided for some departments, especially the district attorney's office, which doesn't even list the name of the district attorney, John C. Pettit, or the mailing address of his office.

District attorney Web pages on other county Web sites are the main feature for some counties, highlighting assistant district attorneys, detectives and departments.

The county has a unique "most wanted" list of deadbeat parents at its Domestic Relations Web page, tax and property assessment information and payment capabilities from the treasurer's office, and an elections office site that is on par with surrounding counties, providing election results, voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications.

Beaver County sponsors a monthly "ask the commissioners" radio talk show, and provides deed and mortgage searches online.

It also features a video arraignment system at its county jail, popular among district justices and police. It's something Washington County is aiming for.

Washington County President Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca has made strides towards technology in the three years she's held the position as top judge, including introducing video conferencing to the courts.

She guided the county courts into the 21st century by installing video surveillance throughout the courthouse, and by working to start development of video arraignments with police departments and district justices countywide.

Mr. Cortese said thanks to Judge O'Dell Seneca's efforts, the county is working to expand video surveillance into other county facilities.

"We'd love to do as much as possible," he said.

To access Washington County's Web site, visit www.co.washington.pa.us