Should Township Keep Nixle Notification System?

What value do you place on Nixle, the text- and email-notification system that South Whitehall can use to inform subscribers about township water department projects, crime watch matters, and refuse and recycling collections. 

Your opinion matters.

South Whitehall officials are weighing whether to continue with the service, now that it will no longer be free to the township.

About 1,500 township residents subscribe to the Nixle notification system, officials say. The township can use it to send out both alerts and advisories.

According to information on the township website, Nixle will continue to offer free "alerts," but will charge the township $1,495 for the first year, and $3,000 to $4,000 for subsequent years, of other notification service. 

The township, not subscribers, would pay the fee.

To gauge the value of the service, the township is asking you to vote on-line. It gives three options: "Yes" to continue the service as-is and to pay for it with tax dollars; "No" to Nixle but to have the township seek a less expensive alternative; and "No" to Nixle and any other notification system. 

Votes must be cast by 4 p.m. on April 6. 

The township has 19,180 residents and 8,180 housing units, according to 2010 Census data.