The 225,000 or so people who visit the Howard County government website each month have a surprise in store: A new, more user-friendly format.

The county this week announced the launch of its new website, which was redesigned using community input and feedback from county employees. The idea behind the new format is to ease navigation and promote interaction with readers, according to a news release issued Friday, Aug.12.

For example, the new website has an "I Want To" tab, which, according to the release, serves as a "one-stop-shop," for visitors who need a quick answer to commonly asked questions but do not know which department to contact.

The new site will also allow users to search for public meetings and development plans using their cell phones.

In the release, County Executive Ken Ulman praised the new website for "giving users an intuitive platform to help them stay connected with the County and find the resources they need quickly."