Caddo Parish leaders activated a new website this week. They hope the website's new look and functions encourage Caddo citizens to get involved with their community and government. Social media plays a large role. Parish Administrator Woody Wilson says citizens can create a user profile to help them be more engaged. The website allows you to more easily ask for information or directly report problems, like road damage. A handy app that's available makes it easy.

"If a citizen is out traveling our roads, and they see something that needs to be repaired, they can just send us a little text message saying we have a problem here," Wilson said.

He says each message will be taken seriously and be answered daily by parish staff.

"So, someone will be checking it daily," he said. "Public works, for example, has already gotten a couple of inputs since we went active Friday."

The new website isn't just a tool for better citizen communication. Wilson says it's also a better marketing tool, used to attract businesses to the area.

"It gives us the opportunity to put forth our best foot," he said. "It says this is who we are. This is what we have to offer."

You can also sign up for parish notifications and get alerts about property bids, road closures and other parish news. The website cost the parish $51,000 to design and get started. It was developed by CivicPlus, which charges $12,000 in maintenance fees yearly.