Website Terms of Use

In order to drive public value and trust online, the County of Siskiyou has developed policies that balance an individual's right to privacy with the public's right to access government records under the California Public Records Act. If you have comments or feedback on the County's policies, please submit a suggestion.

1.  Web Content Accessibility Statement

The County of Siskiyou implemented their website with the intention of providing the following accessibility features:

• A clean and crisp design 
• Consistent navigation structure
• A website Site Map
• Minimal use of frames and image maps
• Alt attributes on non-decorative images for screen readers and text browsers
• Linear, logical web page content that works well with screen readers and other assistive computer technology
• Logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects
• Font and background color contrast for visitors with low vision and users of monitors and Internet devices with black and white screens
• Navigation bars for access to the navigation mechanism
• Identifying English as the natural language of the public website to improve accessibility for assistive technologies, search engines and foreign language translation software

Website visitors are welcome to provide any feedback on the accessibility and usability of the public website by emailing the County’s Webmaster.

2.  Links

This policy addresses the relationship of the County of Siskiyou to the private businesses and other public organizations to which it provides links for users, in addition to providing direction as to what groups and businesses the County will consider providing links to. The following sections of our links policy explain these relationships:

1. Links to External Resources
2. Linking Criteria
3. Adding a Link
4. Removing a Link
5. Endorsement & Liability
    

A. Links to External Resources

Our web pages have many links to other organizations, such as other government agencies, non-profit community based organizations, and for-profit entities. While we offer these links for your convenience in accessing the services you require, please be aware that the policies that apply to our portal may not be the same as the terms of use for other websites. In addition, the County cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by linked sites. The inclusion of a hypertext link to an external website is not intended as an endorsement of any product or service offered or referenced the linked websites, the organizations sponsoring linked websites, or any views that might be expressed or referenced in websites linked to from the County website.

The linked website may use or require third-party web tracking technologies, including but not limited to, cookies, web bugs, and web beacons. In addition, the linked website may request or require the download of a widget on a mobile device requiring the creation of an account (userid, password, email address). The widget may request or require access to the mobile device global positioning system, contacts, photos or other personal information collection. The County is not involved in this arrangement, and you should contact the website owner/operator if you have any questions or concerns.

B. Linking Criteria

The County of Siskiyou may create these hypertext links if it determines that establishing the external link will be consistent with the following criteria:

• Websites maintained by a non-profit charitable, educational, hospital, social, scientific or cultural organization serving county community members.
• Official websites of the cities within Siskiyou County.
• Websites maintained by a state, local or federal government agency or local school or library board.
• Websites maintained by an organization that receives direct financial support from the County.
• Websites maintained by companies that provide utility services to county residents.
• Websites maintained by accredited business and neighborhood associations within the county.
• Organizations that support a County-sponsored event or association.
• Research, education and information sites selected by Siskiyou County Public Library staff using Library guidelines that complement or supplement materials and resources already available in the Library.
• Websites that provide a unique online tool to assist residents in accessing information on the site or in communicating with each other, e.g., a search engine.

C. Adding a Link

The County of Siskiyou, in its sole discretion, will determine whether the external website meets the purpose of this web portal or for the specified informational purposes. 

Parties interested in linking to the County should email the County’s webmaster.

D. Removing a Link

Hypertext links to external websites and pages may be removed or replaced at the sole discretion of the County, at any time without notice. In the event that a linked organization is later determined to be inappropriate, it will be removed from the County website.

E. Endorsement and Liability

The inclusion of a hypertext link to an external website is not intended as an endorsement of any product or service offered or referenced on the linked website, the organizations sponsoring said website, or any views that might be expressed or referenced in the website.

In the event you discover problems with or have concerns regarding the format, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of a linked external website, please contact the organization responsible for the linked external website. The County of Siskiyou does not control, nor is it responsible, for any linked external websites, pages, or content.

3. Privacy

This policy addresses: what personal information about visitors is collected on this website; how private information is held; how it will be used; and under what conditions this information may be shared or released to another party.

The County of Siskiyou website exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate data/information possessed by County government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the disclosure of data/information provided by County policies, and State and Federal laws. These exceptions include the privacy of individuals. Information collected at this site becomes public record and may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exception in law exists.

During your visit to the County's website, information that is not readily identifiable to an individual may be automatically collected and stored. The following sections of our Web Privacy Policy explain these uses:

A. Information That May Be Collected and How It May Be Used

B. Personal Information and Choice

C. Public Disclosure

D. Access to and Correction of Personal Information

E. Cookies

F. Security

G. Disclaimer

H. Feedback

A. Information That May Be Collected & How It May Be Used

If you do nothing during your visit to the County of Siskiyou website but browse or download information, we may automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

• The Internet Protocol (IP) address and domain name used, but not the email address. The IP address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet Service Provider or directly to your computer. We use the IP address to direct Internet traffic to you;
• The type of browser and operating system you used and your connection speed;
• The date and time you visited this site;
• The web pages or services you accessed at this site; and
• The website you visited prior to coming to this website.

The information we collect or store is used to improve the content of our Web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. Additionally, the data we collect helps us route web traffic and track down viruses and attacks against our site. Our website logs do not identify anyone personally, and we make no attempt to link them with the individuals that browse the County website.

If during your visit to the County website you participate in a survey or send an email, the following additional information will be collected:

• Email correspondence: The email address and contents of the email;
• Surveys: Any information you volunteered in response to a survey.

The information collected may not be limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is retained in accordance with the County's policies. The County may use your email to respond to your message, to assist in obtaining information you have requested, to address issues you identify, to further improve our website, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action. Survey information will be used for the purpose designated.

B. Personal Information and Choice

"Personal information" is information about an individual that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes personal identifiers such as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or IP address is not considered personal information.

We will not collect personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an email or participating in a survey). If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way affect your ability to use any other feature of the County's website.

If you choose to provide the County with personal information, such as sending an email to a County employee or by filling out and submitting an online form located on the County’s website, the County will treat such emails and submitted online forms the same way it treats letters to a Board member or to a County department.

The collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information provided by an adult.

C. Public Disclosure

We strive to protect personally identifiable information by collecting only information necessary to deliver our services. All information that may be collected at this site becomes public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exemption in law exists. For instance, if personal information is requested or volunteered, County rules and regulations or the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it from disclosure.

In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy and any applicable law governing the disclosure or protection of information, the governing law will dictate the action to be taken by the County.

D. Access to and Correction of Personal Information

You can submit a written request to review any personal information we collect about you. You may recommend changes to your personal information you believe is in error by submitting a written request that credibly shows the error. If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact us. In all cases, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

E. Cookies

a. What Is a Cookie?

A cookie is a small data file which may include an anonymous unique identifier that is sent to your browser from a website's computers and may either be used only during your session (a "session" cookie) or may be stored on your computer's hard drive (a "persistent" cookie). Cookies can contain data about user movement during the visit to the website. If your browser software is set to allow cookies, a website can send its own cookie to you.

b. Why Are Cookies Used on Websites?

Cookies are a mechanism for maintaining continuity during a user's visit to a website. They allow data to be maintained for users' benefit as they navigate a site. This is referred to as "session" or "management" cookie. These cookies go away when you terminate your visit to the website as they are maintained only in your browser's active memory during your session.

Cookies also may be stored on your computer so that you can be recognized by a website on subsequent visits. They are read by the website that set them whenever you re-visit the website. They are often used on websites that require you to login so that you can avoid having to enter all your login information every visit. They may store information on your unique identifier and the areas of the website you have visited before. These cookies are stored on your computer's hard drive after you have left your website visit and consequently are often referred to as "persistent" cookies.

c. Choices about Cookies

You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the "Help" menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.)

d. Regarding Cookies

Presently, the County uses persistent cookies on some of its Web applications.

F. Security

The County has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day practices of the entire operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management. Nevertheless, in all fairness the County does not guarantee the absolute security of information it maintains.

G. Disclaimer

The County has links to other websites. These may include links to websites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the County website and this Privacy Policy will not apply. When you link to another website, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.

H. Feedback

To offer comments about County of Siskiyou’s website, or to comment about the information presented in this Privacy Policy, email the County’s webmaster The County may choose to amend the information privacy policy without notice. Any substantial change in the way identifying information is used by the County will be prominently displayed on the County’s website.

4.  Acceptable Use

The County of Siskiyou recognizes that checks and balances are essential to mitigate the subjectivity of acceptable use, and will take measures to ensure fairness when dealing with cases of inappropriate use. The County of Siskiyou’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is intended to help protect our customers, and the Internet community, from the inappropriate use of the Internet. A customer's use of the County of Siskiyou’s website constitutes acceptance of this AUP. We reserve the right to revise and update this AUP from time to time. The following sections of our acceptable use policy explain:

1. Use Violations and Descriptions
2. Email
3. Content Submission
4. Third Party Information
5. Reporting Inappropriate Use
6. Consequences of Inappropriate Use

A. Use Violations and Descriptions

a. Impersonation/Forgery

Adding, removing, or modifying identifying network header information in an effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any person by using forged headers or other identifying information is prohibited. The use of anonymous remailers and nicknames does not constitute impersonation. Using deliberately misleading headers in news postings in order to avoid spam email address collectors is allowed provided appropriate contact information is contained in the body of the posting.

b. Privacy Violations

You may not attempt to gain access to any electronic systems, networks or data, without the proper consent.

c. Threats

Verbal or written threats of bodily harm or destruction of property made through email, online communities or uploaded files or links are prohibited.

d. Harassment

Harassing activity toward any individual or group for any reason, including but not limited to race, religion, gender or sexual orientation is prohibited.

e. Illegal Use

The use of the County portal for illegal purposes is prohibited.

f. Network Disruptions

Any activities that adversely affect the ability of other people or systems to use the County’s portal are prohibited. This includes "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user, the known propagation or downloading of viruses, and all forms of hacking.

Interference with or disruption of other network users, network services or network equipment is prohibited.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your network is configured in a secure manner. You may not, through action or inaction, allow others to use your network for illegal or inappropriate actions. You may not permit your network, through action or inaction, to be configured in such a way that gives a third party the capability to use your network in an illegal or inappropriate manner.

B. Email

Directly or indirectly sending viruses, hoaxes, chain letters, advertisements, unsolicited commercial email, or large volumes of unsolicited email, whether or not that email is commercial in nature, is strictly prohibited.

C. Content Submission

Content submissions become the property of the County of Siskiyou, which the County may use at its discretion to the extent permissible by law.

D. Third Party Information

In general, information presented on this website, unless otherwise indicated, is considered in the public domain. It may be distributed or copied as permitted by law. However, the County does make use of copyrighted data (e.g., photographs), which may require additional permissions prior to your use. In order to use any information on this website not owned or created by the County, you must seek permission directly from the owning (or holding) sources.

E. Reporting Inappropriate Use

The County of Siskiyou asks that anyone who believes that there is a violation of this Acceptable Use Policy should direct any relevant information to the County’s webmaster.

F. Consequences of Inappropriate Use

The County of Siskiyou may take one or more of the following actions in response to inappropriate use:

• Issue written or verbal warnings;
• Suspend the person’s posting privileges; or
• Report the offender(s) to the appropriate legal authorities.