A screen shot of Boonville’s new website, www.boonvillenc.com. The new site features links for residents, potential residents, potential businesses, information for current businesses and links to tourist information in town.

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Boonville continues to progress in 2013 as it launches its new website and steps closer toward getting its own water line.

The town’s new website, www.boonvillenc.com, launched earlier this month and features links for residents of the town, information for businesses currently in Boonville, information for individuals and businesses that are considering relocating to the area and information about places to shop, stay and eat in Boonville.

The website also provides links to the town’s social media sites on Pintrest, Facebook and Flickr.

At the town hall meeting on March 5 the board voted to go ahead with the USDA’s plan for the town’s water line.

The board plans to vote on accepting the USDA’s terms for a grant in either May or June with advertising for bids to follow. In July the board hopes to award a contract for construction of the line and plans to announce a notice to proceed and sign a six-month contract in August.

Greater Boonville Business Association President Tommy Jester announced that the town had finished installing its vintage style lampposts in the downtown area during the organization’s meeting on March 7.

Organization member Tom Bastable noted that the lights are functioning well and he has received several positive comments from Boonville residents.

The group discussed other ways that the town could improve the appearance of downtown without investing much money.

Bastable also suggested the association could find a way to provide flowerpots for businesses to use on their sidewalks. Jester agreed that something small could be a springboard for all businesses in town to revisit their outside appearance.

“I think when you improve the businesses in town it inspires the other businesses in town to follow suit,” Jester said. “There are several small things you can do that can completely change the look of your business.”

Bastable suggested the creation of a farmer’s market on Sunday afternoons or one evening a week, adding benches along the sidewalks in the downtown area and creating walking trails in town.

“We need to do little things that will get residents out and walking in town and that will encourage visitors to stop and walk around town as well,” Bastable said.

Bastable also pointed out a strong need for public restrooms in town. Jester suggested that the town might be looking into a vacant property that could serve as a public restroom and visitor’s center but no action has been set forth yet.

Reach Lindsay Craven at 679-2341 or at lcraven@civitasmedia.com.