CitySourced reported on the launch of a new Smartphone app by the city of St. Charles that allows citizens to identify and report non-emergency civic issues, such as public works, quality of life, and environmental issues. This mobile reporting platform will improve how St. Charles delivers services to its neighborhoods.
“St. Charles Connect” allows a user to capture a photo, video, or audio of the problem. The user then uploads the media and, along with GPS location information pulled directly from the device, submits a report directly to the appropriate department. Once a report is submitted, feedback is provided to the user based on the action taken by the department handling the report. The application verifies that the item that is reported is within the city limits. If an issue is outside city limits a GPS tracking service from the device the sender is using will identify the location and notify the sender.