SHINER

Shiner plugs into new technologies

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Shiner City Council adopted two new programs for public works and information. iWorQ, a work order system, and CodeRED, an emergency notification system, were both purchased at the Aug. 5 council meeting.

iWorQ covers a myriad of topics related to the city including work force systems, permitting, code enforcement, citizen engagement and backflow management.

iWorQ also contains a citizen app where residents can file a public works request or complaint directly to the city. Shiner Public Works Director Mike Ulbig mentioned residents must include at least a name and contact number to file the request.

 “In order for keeping citizens from just sitting there making complaint, after complaint, after complaint while they’re sitting up watching T.V., you can specify certain fields that have to be filled out,” Ulbig said. “There’s 27 fields and we can make them fill every one of them out for each one of those things.”

The requests will be emailed to the proper person and given a status—open, pending or closed—depending on where the city is in the order. All requests will be logged, and the city will have access to citizen’s records.

“Any tracking program for work orders makes you more efficient,” Ulbig said.

iWorQ will cost the $7,500 per year, as well as, a one-time $5,000 training fee. Due to the adoption being in the middle of Shiner’s budget year, iWorQ was willing to offer the city a fee of $2,000 with the rest being paid next fiscal year.

Council noted it had been trying to acquire the iWorQ software for an extended amount of time, even reaching past the current tenure of Ulbig.

CodeRED is a public information system. Using a listed populated by numbers from the white and yellow pages, as well as citizens that choose to register, the city can immediately disperse emergency messages or public information from any government entity that operates within city limits via text or call. Citizens have the option to choose how much information they receive and which method—text, call or both—they prefer.

CodeRED was selected over similar product Nixle at the recommendation of Ulbig. CodeRED will cost the city $2,000 per year.

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