8/5/2020
A screenshot of the SeeClickFix app for Smithfield includes links to useful town websites and reporting tools.
Smithfield’s new app lets residents report issues
SMITHFIELD – Tired of hitting the same pothole every day and not sure what to do about it?
Smithfield has teamed up with the company SeeClickFix to provide a mobile app on Android or iPhone where citizens can take a photo or video of a problem and report the problem and its location with descriptions back to the correct town department.
Tax Assessor Drew Manlove worked with the Town Council and Town Manager Randy Rossi to bring the program to Smithfield.
Manlove said the app can be used to report a streetlight out, broken sidewalk, missed garbage pickup and more. The homepage has an information link for Town Council meetings, emergency services, and more.
“It’s a new way to give people easy access to town government,” Manlove said.
App users can take a picture of the problem, and the app sends the location of the picture to the appropriate department. Reports may be submitted anonymously, too, he said.
Manlove said users can track the progress of the report on the app, as well.
Citizen reporters may even create a “watch area” to receive notifications about issues reported in their community.
Manlove said the app has a limited number of requests that route each issue to the correct department. He said most reports will go directly to the Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation for service.
“One of the issues I think this alleviates is if a citizen in Smithfield sees a problem, say a pothole, they are supposed to find a number and know which department to contact,” Manlove said.
He added that as assessor, he often redirects calls or visitors to the appropriate office at Town Hall.
The free-to-download app went live last month for a soft rollout, and Manlove said it was released townwide in Rossi’s monthly newsletter on Aug. 1.
“We’re trying to get the word out for people to start using this,” Manlove said.
He said reports made for state-owned property will be forwarded to the state for repairs, as well.
Town Council President Suzy Alba said the app gives residents more of a voice and a direct line to town government through the click of a button.
“The Town Council is very excited to work with the town and SeeClickFix on implementing this new technology to make town government more open and accessible,” said Alba.
