When a natural gas leak threatened residents in Brookfield Township, Ohio, a township official pulled over on the roadside and sent an emergency alert to 8,400 residents in seconds—all from an iPhone. This small Northeast Ohio township transformed its communication from virtually non-existent to real-time, mobile-first alerts using GOGov's citizen notification platform. With a lean staff of just three trustees and limited resources, Brookfield proves that even the smallest municipalities can deliver big-city communication capabilities without breaking the budget or overwhelming their team.

About Brookfield Township

Brookfield Township is a small township in Northeast Ohio, located near the Pennsylvania border, with a population of approximately 8,400 residents. Governed by a three-member Board of Trustees and supported by a small administrative team, the township operates with a lean, locally elected government structure. Like many communities in the region, Brookfield serves an older population, making clear, timely, and accessible communication with residents especially important.

The Challenge: Finding a Modern Communication Solution for Small Municipalities

Before implementing GOGov, Brookfield Township was looking for a more modern and effective way to communicate with the public. With limited staff capacity and growing expectations from residents, township leadership needed a solution that could help them quickly share important updates and improve public outreach—without adding complexity to daily operations.

Brookfield first learned about GOGov through township association connections and was drawn to the platform's communication-focused tools and ease of use.

Current Usage: Streamlining Township Communications

Mobile-First Citizen Notifications

Brookfield Township currently uses Citizen Notifications, including SMS text and voice call alerts, to communicate with residents through its branded app, My Brookfield. With a small staff and limited resources, the township values having a tool that is easy to use and accessible from anywhere.

Field-Ready Emergency Alert System

Township leadership can send notifications directly from mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones, allowing them to share updates even when they are out in the field. This flexibility has been especially valuable during urgent situations where timely communication is critical.

Beyond Emergency Alerts: Community Engagement

In addition to emergency alerts, Brookfield uses GOGov for non-emergency reminders and community updates, helping residents stay informed without relying solely on traditional communication channels. The township has also focused on growing awareness and adoption by tracking app downloads and encouraging sign-ups through outreach efforts like mailed postcards.

Real-World Impact: Emergency Response in Action

Case Study: Natural Gas Leak and Road Closure

Brookfield Township has already seen the value of GOGov during time-sensitive situations. In one instance involving a natural gas leak and road closure, township leadership was able to quickly send out a notification to residents as the situation unfolded.

Because GOGov can be accessed from mobile devices, a township official was able to pull over and send the alert immediately, ensuring residents receive critical information as quickly as possible. This ability to communicate in real time helped reduce confusion during a potentially dangerous situation.

Ongoing Community Communication

Beyond emergencies, Brookfield continues to use GOGov to share non-emergency reminders and community information, keeping residents informed and engaged.

Early Wins & Feedback: Building Resident Adoption

Brookfield Township has received positive feedback from residents, particularly after promoting the platform through mailed postcards that helped raise awareness and drive sign-ups. Internally, staff members, including newer administrative staff, have been impressed by how intuitive and easy the system is to use, even with minimal training.

Township leadership continues to monitor engagement and app downloads to ensure the platform is delivering value and supporting their overall communication goals.

Advice to Other Communities: A Trustee's Perspective

"It's well worth trying. There's a lot of potential if you're looking to better communicate with your community." — Dan Suttles, Chairman, Board of Trustees

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 Brookfield Township, OH, 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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