Whitefish creates app so folks can report issues around city

The City of Whitefish is making it easier for folks to report issues they see around town.

The city recently set up a web application that allows people to report issues on smart phones or computers. The application, called the Problem Reporter, is for non-emergency issues.

Public Works Director Craig Workman said the city looked at a number of different tools to engage citizens in creating the application.

“This gives residents and business owners an avenue to communicate with us,” he said. “This for minor, non life-threating issues — if there’s a pothole in a street or a limb on a tree that needs to be trimmed.”

The application sorts reporting issues for different departments — parks, code enforcement, short-term rentals, street problems, tree problems and water conservation.

In reporting an issue, there are different categories to select along with the opportunity to describe details of the issue and attach a photo. Those reporting issue are required to provide their name, phone number and email address, but the city notes that it does not share personal information from the reports.

To assist the city in properly locating the issue, if using a web browser the location must be enable. Adding pictures, Workman noted, is also helpful in assisting the city address issues.

Workman said the problems reported go directly into the city’s work order system so the issues can be tracked through the process.

“We can update people as we investigate the issue and it’s solved,” he said. “This is our attempt to give people another way to communicate with the city.”

The web application can be found at the bottom right corner of the city website at http://www.cityofwhitefish.org/ or directly at https://maps.cityofwhitefish.org/publicapps/reporter/