For over a decade, Bullhead City, Arizona has relied on GOGov's citizen engagement platform to streamline operations, reduce call volume, and improve service delivery. From tackling resident service requests in 2012 to launching real-time notifications in 2025, this tri-state community has built a modern digital infrastructure that supports both residents and staff. In this customer spotlight, discover how Bullhead City uses GOGov's Citizen Requests, Code Enforcement, and GONotify to maintain their reputation as a premier sports tourism destination while delivering efficient, transparent government services.

About Bullhead City, Arizona

Located at the crossroads of Arizona, Nevada, and California, Bullhead City is a growing desert community of approximately 42,000 residents, with a broader regional population nearing 50,000 when neighboring communities are included. Situated along the Colorado River, the city sits directly across the river from Laughlin, Nevada, creating a unique tri-state dynamic that strongly influences the local economy and workforce.

Tourism is a major economic driver for Bullhead City, supported by river recreation, outdoor adventure, and gaming. While the casinos are located in Laughlin, many Bullhead City residents work across the river in Nevada's gaming and hospitality industry, making gaming an important source of employment and economic stability for the community. Visitors drawn to the casinos often stay, dine, and shop in Bullhead City, further supporting local businesses.

Youth Sports Tourism and Recreation

Bullhead City is also a destination for youth sports tourism, anchored by a large, centralized sports park capable of hosting up to 200 soccer teams during major tournaments. With numerous fields located within a single complex, families can attend multiple games in one location rather than traveling across a metro area, which makes Bullhead City especially attractive for regional and national tournaments.

In addition to water sports, boating, and desert recreation, including direct access to the Arizona Peace Trail for off-roading, Bullhead City has long been a desirable retirement destination. Residents are drawn by affordability, mild winters, and an active lifestyle without sacrificing modern city amenities. With close proximity to Las Vegas and Southern California, Bullhead City continues to grow as more people discover a community that offers both adventure and opportunity in one accessible location.

The Challenge That Led Bullhead City to GOGov

In 2012, Bullhead City turned to GOGov in response to a growing need for a centralized, easy-to-use system that could streamline communication between residents and city staff. Prior to implementing GOGov, residents often called the city's front desk to report issues such as potholes, weeds, or infrastructure concerns, frequently without knowing which department was responsible. This resulted in high call volumes, misdirected requests, and inefficiencies that slowed response times and placed unnecessary strain on staff.

Finding a Modern Solution for Citizen Requests

The city needed a solution that would allow residents to report issues easily while automatically routing those requests to the appropriate department, without requiring residents to understand internal city operations. GOGov's Citizen Requests and Code Enforcement modules provided a simple, accessible ticketing system that reduced call volume, improved internal coordination, and ensured issues were addressed more efficiently.

Over time, the platform also proved valuable for internal use. Departments such as the Police Department rely on GOGov to submit work orders and flag issues encountered during daily patrols, further streamlining cross-department communication.

The Need for Reliable Communication

More recently, Bullhead City faced a new challenge: delivering timely, reliable information to residents. Social media had become an unreliable channel for urgent or time-sensitive messaging, as platform algorithms often delayed visibility until after information was no longer relevant. This led to frustration among residents who felt they were missing important updates, despite the city's consistent outreach efforts.

To address this, Bullhead City expanded its GOGov platform in 2025 to include Citizen Notifications, along with Voice Call and SMS Texting capabilities. These tools allow the city to control when messages are delivered, ensuring residents receive critical updates, such as road closures, events, and service disruptions, exactly when the information matters most.

How is Bullhead City Using GOGov Today?

Today, Bullhead City uses Citizen Requests, Code Enforcement, and Citizen Notifications to support both internal operations and resident communication. Citizen Requests and Code Enforcement serve as the city's primary ticketing system, routing reported issues directly to the appropriate department without requiring residents to know who to contact.

Daily Operations and Service Requests

The platform is used for a wide range of issues, including abandoned vehicles, graffiti, weeds, potholes, park maintenance, and other visible community concerns. Requests submitted through the app are handled daily by staff, and GOGov is also heavily used internally, particularly by the Police Department, to submit work orders and flag issues encountered during patrols.

"It's just a really convenient way for us, and for the community, to make sure issues are getting to the right people without tracking someone down or sending a bunch of emails," said Mackenzie Covert, Public Information Officer.

Expanding Communication with Citizen Notifications

In 2025, Bullhead City launched Citizen Notifications, with Voice Call and SMS Texting available as the city continues to refine its communication strategy. Notifications are now used to deliver timely, actionable updates directly to residents, helping the city move beyond the limitations of social media for time-sensitive messaging.

The city continues to see growing value in GOGov as a centralized platform that reduces call volume, improves internal coordination, and strengthens communication. As awareness of the city's app, Bullhead City Direct, increases, Bullhead City has seen renewed interest and excitement from both residents and city leadership.

Real-World Impact: Protecting Bullhead City's Brand

For Bullhead City, the impact of GOGov is best reflected in how deeply it is embedded into daily operations. After more than a decade of use, Citizen Requests and Code Enforcement are no longer viewed as add-ons; they are foundational to how the city operates.

Supporting Sports Tourism Through Maintenance Excellence

In Code Enforcement, GOGov supports nearly the entire workflow. For departments like Parks and Maintenance, the platform plays a critical role in protecting one of Bullhead City's most important assets: its parks. As a major driver of youth sports tourism, the condition of park facilities directly impacts the city's reputation and local economy.

GOGov also functions as a real-time "first alert" system, allowing residents and visitors to report issues such as graffiti, maintenance needs, or facility concerns as soon as they are noticed, even during large tournaments or events.

"Parks are part of our brand identity and our overall economic strategy," said Covert. "We take extreme pride in how pristine our fields and facilities are, and the app helps us respond quickly so we can maintain that standard."

This responsiveness consistently shows up in feedback from traveling teams and families, who frequently comment on the cleanliness, quality, and professionalism of Bullhead City's park facilities. While staff cannot be everywhere at once, GOGov extends the city's visibility and helps ensure issues are addressed before they impact the visitor experience.

Measuring Success

Bullhead City measures the success of GOGov through operational outcomes and community feedback. Internally, departments are expected to close requests within reasonable timeframes, and ticket data is reviewed periodically to ensure workflows are functioning effectively.

Key Performance Indicators

One of the clearest indicators of success has been a reduction in call volume to the city's front desk, as residents increasingly use the app to submit requests directly to the appropriate department. Another key indicator is adoption and endorsement from city staff and leadership, including council members who, once introduced to the app, began promoting it independently to their own audiences.

Bullhead City recognizes that the value of GOGov extends beyond request volume alone. The platform plays a critical role in supporting staff in the field, streamlining internal coordination, and providing residents with a reliable way to report and resolve issues efficiently. With the addition of Citizen Notifications, the city is expanding its ability to deliver timely, actionable information to an even broader audience.

Advice to Other Local Governments

For municipalities considering GOGov, Bullhead City emphasizes the importance of strong, direct communication.

"From a public information perspective, the Citizen Notifications feature alone is worth it," said Covert. "Being able to control when and how residents receive information is incredibly powerful, especially for time-sensitive messaging."

While Citizen Requests and Code Enforcement are essential operational tools, particularly for communities without a modern ticketing system, Citizen Notifications stands out as a game changer for public communication. Unlike social media, notifications allow municipalities to reach residents directly, on their own timeline, without relying on algorithms or engagement-driven visibility.

For Bullhead City, GOGov has proven to be a flexible platform that meets communities where they are, whether they are modernizing service requests, improving internal workflows, or strengthening real-time communication with residents.

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 Bullhead City 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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