Every May, we celebrate National Public Works Week, a time to recognize the unsung heroes who keep our cities, towns, and counties running smoothly. From fixing potholes and maintaining water lines to clearing snow and managing waste, Public Works departments are the backbone of local government infrastructure.

At GOGov, we’re proud to support Public Works teams across the country with the tools they need to connect with residents, streamline service delivery, and operate more efficiently. Our mission is to help local governments of all sizes modernize how they work—making communication easier, faster, and more transparent.

Why Public Works Teams Matter

Organized by the American Public Works Association (APWA), National Public Works Week highlights the vital role these departments play in everyday life. Their work touches nearly every aspect of a community’s well-being:

• Safe drinking water
• Clean streets and public spaces
• Efficient stormwater systems
• Reliable trash and recycling services
• Well-maintained public buildings and parks
• Road and sidewalk maintenance

Yet, Public Works is often under-resourced and overburdened—especially in smaller municipalities. Staff are juggling multiple roles, answering countless resident calls, and tracking service requests across spreadsheets or paper logs.

GOGov’s Role in Supporting Public Works

GOGov offers a suite of tools designed specifically for local governments, including our Citizen Requests Management system (CRM) and Citizen Notifications platform—both of which are used extensively by Public Works departments to streamline their operations.

Here’s how GOGov is making a difference:

1. Simplifying Service Requests

Public Works teams receive hundreds—sometimes thousands—of requests each year. With GOGov’s Citizen Requests Management, municipalities can:

• Allow residents to report issues like potholes, broken streetlights, and debris through a mobile app or website
• Automatically route requests to the correct department or crew
• Track progress and provide updates to residents
• Close the loop with automated status notifications

Instead of sorting through phone calls, voicemails, or emails, teams can manage requests from a centralized dashboard, making it easier to prioritize tasks, avoid duplication, and reduce response times.

Real-World Example:

A city in Ohio used GOGov to manage over 1,200 public works-related requests in one year—reducing manual tracking and improving response visibility across departments.

2. Enhancing Communication with Citizen Notifications

Public Works departments are on the front lines when things go wrong—water main breaks, road closures, trash delays. With GOGov’s Citizen Notifications, staff can:

• Send real-time alerts via push, email, SMS, or voice
• Target messages by location, topic, or audience
• Reduce inbound calls by providing clear, proactive communication

During a snowstorm, for instance, a city can notify residents about plow routes and parking bans within minutes. Or before a holiday, staff can send updates about trash collection changes or park closures.

This direct, reliable communication channel builds trust—and ensures residents stay informed.

3. Mobile-First Tools for Field Crews

With GOGov, Public Works staff don’t have to be tied to the office. Our mobile-friendly platform lets crews:

• Access requests from their phones or tablets
• Upload photos and add notes from the field
• Update request status on-site

This means fewer trips back to the office, quicker response times, and better visibility into what’s happening across the city.

4. Data-Driven Operations

GOGov makes it easy for departments to generate performance reports that highlight key metrics:

• Average response times
• Top request categories (e.g., potholes, signage, storm damage)
• Number of open vs. closed requests
• Public satisfaction trends

These insights help city leaders allocate resources, justify budgets, and plan more effectively for future maintenance and growth.

5. Easy for Residents, Powerful for Staff

Our platform is built to be intuitive—for both the public and internal teams. Residents can:

• Submit issues in under a minute
• Track updates without calling City Hall
• Upload photos and notes for clarity

Staff can:

• Route and triage requests quickly
• Eliminate paper-based systems
• Communicate directly with residents from one place

Whether your public works team has 2 staffers or 20, GOGov scales to fit your needs—without the need for complex IT integrations.

A Shared Mission: Building Better Communities

This year’s National Public Works Week theme—“Advancing Quality of Life for All”—is something we at GOGov believe in deeply. Public Works professionals are not just maintaining infrastructure; they’re shaping the future of our communities.

By partnering with GOGov, municipalities are not only embracing modern technology—they’re creating more transparent, responsive, and citizen-centered local governments.

Want to Learn More?

If you're a Public Works Director, Field Supervisor, or City Manager looking to improve how your department communicates and operates, we’re here to help.

Schedule a personalized demo and discover how GOGov can make your operations simpler, smarter, and more connected.

‍