FLOWERY BRANCH - Residents of Flowery Branch will soon have a new way to report problems in the city -- from potholes to graffiti to code violations -- via smart phones or computers.
City Council members approved a $5,000 contract for the mobile app "See Click Fix" in a 3-1 vote, with councilman Joe Anglin casting the lone "no" vote.
"Basically (residents) see an issue...they can take a photo of it, and when they take the photo it will automatically register via GPS where the issue is occurring," said City Manager Bill Andrew, who noted that the app is functional for iPhones and Androids.
The app is free for residents to download, and allows users to add descriptions to their photos, which city workers can then view on a map.
"Then we'll have (the report) automatically routed to the department that will take care of it, so if it's a code enforcement issue, then code enforcement will receive it. If it's a public works (issue) for a road or a sign, they would receive it and create a work order," said Andrew.
Users can also access a voting system to show which issues they feel are most important, and the app will prioritize them based on those votes.
"It's a way for us to communicate with citizens what's needing to be done in the city," said Andrew.
The $5,000 rate comes at a $3,000 discount, according to Andrew, but that lower rate was only available through April 3.
Anglin said he was more concerned about adding a "luxury item" to the budget this year, and would have preferred the city explore other options closer to July 1, which is the start of the next fiscal year.
"Since millage was raised this past year, I felt like this is a year where you don't want to be adding luxury items, when you had to raise the millage and ask more of the citizens," said Anglin.
Other concerns raised in the discussion included liability for the city, should a problem be reported and not fixed before an accident happens.
Councilman Fred Richards noted that it was more likely the opposite would happen: the city would be alerted to an issue before it ever caused a serious problem.
"I think this (app) will give us more eyes in the field, and help us use our manpower more efficiently," said Richards.
Andrew clarified that the users of the app must agree to a Terms of Service agreement, and that would curb any issues of abuse within the app, such as citizens stalking police officers or falsely reporting information.
The contract for the app is on a one-year, renewable basis, and other cities in the area, including Johns Creek and Suwanee, already use similar services.
OTHER NOTES
- Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to hold a special election June 16 to fill the council seats vacated by Damon Gibbs and Tara Richards (Posts 1 and 5). (Click the following link for more details: http://www.accessnorthga.com/article/2015/3/286538)
- A 2005 Chevy Impala and two gas tanks that were dug up during the Lights Ferry Roundabout project were declared surplus, and will be sold at auction.
