The Wright City Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a new contract for geographic information system software from iWorQ software for roughly $18,000 at their May 8 meeting.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
The Wright City Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a new contract for geographic information system software from iWorQ software for roughly $18,000 at their May 8 meeting.
The software will replace a previous contract with Utilisource for GIS software, which was approved at the Aug. 8, 2024 meeting for just under $15,000.
According to Mayor Michelle Heiliger, Utilisource refunded the city $12,000 of that contract although roughly $2,500 had already been spent on designing the software for the city.
Geographic information systems are used by municipalities to keep track of items like the location of utilities and streets as well as other geographic data of the surrounding area.
The city had previously approved the contract with Utilisource to custom-build GIS software, but it became apparent that it was not going to have the capabilities they needed.
“The system just couldn’t do what we needed it to do, and we worked with their designers,” said Heiliger. “They were very kind in coming and working with them to try to achieve what we wanted, but it was a mutual thing where we both said this just isn’t gonna do it.”
The new contract with iWorQ is for existing software that will not have to be changed to fit the city’s needs.
“This is pre-made out of the box, it’ll work,” said Building Inspector Lance Bauer. “The previous software was kind of a design-build that they were trying to make, and that’s why it didn’t work out.”
Originally, the building and public works departments had planned to split the cost of the new software, but Heiliger said Bauer had offered to pay for the contract in full.
“Lance had the money in his budget, so he’s actually volunteered to (cover) the entire cost,” said Heiliger.
Once implemented, the new software will make the city’s processes for repairs and ticketing with the public works department much more efficient, according to Heiliger.
She said citizens would also be able to use the software online to request repairs on city infrastructure.
“It’ll give residents the ability (to say) ‘I need this repaired,’ I can take a picture of it. I can fill out a thing online, and it sends it automatically into our building department or into our public works department.”
She continued, saying the software would also make things easier for city staff as it could be used to track repairs and tickets, including warranty information, for the public works department.
According to Heiliger, currently all that work is done by hand.
