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Whitefish creates app so folks can report issues around city

HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 6 months AGO
by HEIDI DESCH
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | January 8, 2020 1:00 AM

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/

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