Now, latest information about the city of Athens is just a click away.

While the city has had a Web site for several years, now residents can get updates via automatic e-mails.

Micah Cochran, geographic information systems coordinator in the Public Works Department, and Dale Haymon, computer information systems coordinator at Athens Utilities, have designed a link on the city’s Web site where residents can submit their e-mail addresses to get notices mailed to them.

“Go to the city’s Web site at athensal.us and scroll to E-Announcements and click on signup,” said Cochran. “This will allow people to put in their addresses and then get news about events a couple of weeks ahead of time, such as the Veterans Parade. They will also get any changes in city services.”

Cochran said the idea for the e-mail list came from Public Works Department Director James Rich.

Haymon said about 20 people have signed up for the e-mail notifications so far.

“We set this up Wednesday and had a few employees test it,” said Haymon. “By Friday, we had about 20 people who clicked on the signup after visiting the site. We hope this will be a good way for people to communicate and get information. We won’t spam people and they can opt out of it any time they want.”