Fix a pothole in Alpharetta? There's an app for that

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

See a pothole that needs to be filled? There's an app for that. Wish the city would fix that balky traffic signal around the corner? There's an app for that, too -- if you're in Alpharetta.

The city has launched a new system for reporting minor hazards using a free application for smart phones.

SeeClickFix allows residents to flag the location, take a picture of the offense and notify the city of the problem. The complaint appears on the city's Web site with a time stamp.

Then the fun begins.

"We're pretty confident in our ability to respond to real issues" said James Drinkard, Alpharetta’s assistant city administrator.

Since the city began service in mid-June, residents have submitted 31 separate complaints ranging from potholes to sidewalks to traffic signals. A little more than half have been resolved.

"It's a pretty great tool," said Alpharetta resident Victor Hawa. "As soon as I saw it, I downloaded it."

Lucky for him. Two weeks later, at a carwash on Old Milton Parkway, Hawa noticed a broken stormdrain. He called up his app, took a picture and lodged a complaint.

"They had it fixed in a couple of weeks," he said.

The city can get around to fixing potholes within 24 to 48 hours, Drinkard said. Sidewalk repairs can take up to a month because work crews generally want to do several at a time to save on expense, he said.

And if you don't believe him, go to the city's Web site and track it. The site lists all the complaints and their status. It even allow residents to pile on and add their comments about a specific hazard.

Alpharetta is the only city in metro Atlanta signed up to the system, although more than a dozen neighborhood and civic groups use a free version offering fewer options.

SeeClickFix, based in New Haven, Conn., charges the city $100 a month for the service. Residents with smart phones can download the application free from the Apple's Aps Store or go online to file complaints.

"Public works gets a way of showing how accountable and responsible they're being," said Ben Berkowitz, SeeClickFix chief executive. "Most residents are grateful when issues get settled."

Other cities on the plan include New Haven, Washington, and Philadelphia.

The system is like a constant job evaluation for public works director Pete Sewczwics, but he says it actually helps job performance.

"We can't be everywhere and see every pothole," he said. "This lets us have another form of communication to our citizens."