About McAlester, Oklahoma
Located in southeastern Oklahoma, the City of McAlester is a vibrant community of approximately 18,000 residents with a rich and storied history. Like many cities in the region, McAlester’s roots trace back to the coal and railroad industries, which shaped its early growth and character.
Today, the city is deeply connected to the military through the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, a longstanding presence in the community for nearly a century. This connection has fostered a strong population of military veterans and a deep sense of pride and service throughout the city.
Another defining influence in McAlester is the Choctaw Nation, whose partnership and support touch nearly every aspect of community life. From youth sports and local initiatives to larger efforts like a new Sister Cities program, the Choctaw Nation plays a vital role in enriching the community and supporting its continued growth.
With its blend of historical roots, military ties, and strong community partnerships, McAlester offers a unique and dynamic environment that continues to evolve while honoring its past.
The Challenge: Reaching Residents & Turning Complaints into Action
Before implementing GOGov, the City of McAlester faced a common challenge: ensuring residents’ concerns were heard and addressed efficiently. Traditional communication methods often fell short, and issues—from potholes to code violations—were frequently reported through social media, where staff couldn’t always see or respond promptly.
The city recognized the need for a streamlined, centralized solution that could deliver important updates straight to residents’ phones or emails while also providing a clear way for citizens to report issues directly.
As Public Information Officer Adrian O’Hanlon explained, the goal was to “find a more streamlined method of communication with citizens… and really help us become more aware of issues and solve them more quickly.”
The Solution: Powering Communication with McAlester Connect
To meet these needs, the City of McAlester turned to GOGov’s Citizen Requests and Notifications products through their branded app, McAlester Connect.
Together, these tools have become central to the city’s daily operations. Push notifications keep residents informed with timely alerts—ranging from emergency updates and utility issues to planned road closures and community initiatives. Meanwhile, citizen requests allows residents to report concerns directly, routing requests to the appropriate departments for fast, efficient resolution.
“Whenever we are made aware of a leak or a project that will close a street, we’re able to communicate with our citizens,” said Adrian. “We also try to shine a light on some of the happier things—events or staff achievements. We utilize it for every aspect of our communication operations here.”
Real-World Impact: From Missed Calls to Measurable Action
For McAlester, the most meaningful impact of the platform has been turning citizen reports into measurable action. Before the app, residents’ concerns could get lost in phone calls or between departments, delaying responses. With McAlester Connect, requests are tracked from submission to resolution, strengthening accountability and transparency.
Residents can see their concerns being addressed, and staff can document progress every step of the way. As Adrian noted, the platform has “strengthened accountability on our end… it’s really helped us build transparency with our community.”
A standout example is the city’s pothole initiative. Encouraged by Mayor Justin Few, who incentivized reporting milestones, the city saw a surge in submissions through the app. Staff were able to resolve reported potholes within 24 to 48 hours, improving response times and shifting perceptions about street conditions.
Measuring Success: Faster Response Times & Focused Priorities
McAlester tracks key metrics to gauge the app’s effectiveness, focusing on:
• Pothole repairs
• Code enforcement issues
• Water leak response times
Response times, especially for potholes, provide tangible evidence of progress: residents see results quickly, and city leadership can track operational improvements.
“Response times are the biggest metric,” Adrian said. “We’re fixing potholes within two days, and code enforcement issues are another focus area. It gives us a clear picture of how we’re performing and where we can improve.”
By combining real-world results with transparent communication, McAlester Connect has become an essential tool for both staff and residents, strengthening trust and engagement across the community.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Engagement & Supporting Major Initiatives
The City of McAlester isn’t slowing down. With plans to increase community awareness of McAlester Connect and integrate it across more departments, the app will continue to be a central tool for keeping residents informed and engaged.
Key initiatives where the app plays a major role include:
• The multi-year DWSRF waterline improvement project
• Communicating contractor schedules and expected water outages
• A proposed 1% sales tax initiative dedicated to road improvements
• Promoting town halls and increasing civic participation
Through GOGov, residents can receive updates that help them stay informed and plan ahead.
“GoGov is crucial across every aspect of our operations—from emergency notifications to informing residents about major projects and initiatives,” Adrian said.
By leveraging the app for both everyday communications and high-stakes civic engagement, McAlester is strengthening transparency, building trust, and keeping its community connected.
Advice to Other Local Governments
When asked what advice he would share with other municipalities considering GOGov, Adrian was candid:
“Building strong community buy-in has made a meaningful impact for us. It’s allowed us to clearly communicate our message, mission, and goals while keeping residents informed and engaged. Transparency remains a top priority—it’s fundamental to effective municipal government. Tools like GOGov play a critical role in helping us achieve that.”
Your Municipality Powered by GOGov
GOGov is committed to helping municipalities and local governments enhance community engagement, streamline operations, and foster transparent communication. Our partnership with McAlester demonstrates the potential of our solutions to make a meaningful impact on local governments and districts of all sizes.
GOGov specializes in providing CRM, Code Enforcement, Citizen Notifications, Online Permitting and mobile software to local governments of all sizes. We built our software from the ground up working with the departments and staff that now use our products every single day.
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