RUTLAND   ✸   OHIO

RUTLAND, Ohio (October 24, 2022) — The Rutland Village Hall-Civic Center now has a new telephone system to better assist those desiring to interact with the Village and contact a Village department with the simple dial of a key.

The Village of Rutland has partnered with local internet and telephone provider New Era Broadband to establish a multifunctional telephone system at the Rutland Village Hall-Civic Center. Once a telephone service customer of Suddenlink Communications, now Optimum, the Village of Rutland now utilizes telephone service through New Era Broadband.

According to Rutland Mayor Tyler Eblin, the new system features a virtual receptionist that will welcome callers who contact the Village Hall. Callers may press 9 to hear information regarding office hours and Village announcements. Options one through seven may be selected depending on the department desired. Callers notifying the Village Hall to report an issue with their sewer and water system may simply press 6 and will automatically be transferred to the Sewer and Water Plant.

"With the former telephone system, callers would be directed to a single answering system if no staff were available. The Clerk would transcribe the messages and then relay those messages to the various department heads. With the new system, callers will be transferred directly to the department to which they desire to speak and may provide a voicemail message on the department's telephone," comments Mayor Eblin. "It minimizes the need for the Clerk to transcribe messages and abates the possibility of messages becoming lost or deleted from the answering system to the department head."

According to Mayor Eblin, with the old system, if a call was answered by the Clerk and the caller would need to speak to the Marshal or Street Commissioner, the Clerk would be required to personally walk to their offices to notify them of a telephone call. The new system features office extensions, eliminating these very inconveniences.

"My favorite feature of the system is the ability to easily access important Village announcements by telephone as an alternative to accessing the announcements via Facebook or our Village website," comments Mayor Eblin. "This feature will be very beneficial for those who do not utilize social media."

Mayor Eblin indicates the system will eventually integrate with the Village's pay-by-phone system allowing callers to utilize the Village Hall primary telephone number to make payment of Village fees and fines.

"The residents of the Village deserve a professional service by which their Village officials may be notified and by which they may access information about their local government," comments Mayor Eblin. "We're pleased we can make this service a reality."

The Rutland Village Hall-Civic Center may be contacted by calling (740) 742 2121.

###