Brookfield Township will soon have its own app.
Township trustees on Oct. 25 agreed to a contract with GOGov, which offers a citizen notification and alert system. Township officials will be able to share information about township activities and road closings through push notifications and text messages. Citizens who want to be in the loop will be able to download the app through the app store or by scanning a QR code.
Trustees said they will plan a roll-out strategy once the app is available.
Trustee Dan Suttles said he downloaded Howland’s GoGov app and found it to be “impressive.”
“I think this is a good way of keeping better contact with our public,” he said. “It seems easy to do. We can make it ours, whatever we want it to be.”
The trustees agreed to a two-year contract that will cost the township $4,660 a year, and to use American Rescue Plan Act funds. Suttles said the cost is based on population. The two-year term will give officials an idea of how successful the app is, and future trustee boards can decide if it’s worth using general funds to continue the service, officials said.
Suttles added that he looked at two other options and liked GOGov the best.
“Nowadays, it’s almost expected,” Trustee Mark Ferrara said of electronic communication. “I think it’s a good idea.”
“I like technology, so I would like to go in that direction,” said Trustee Shannon Devitz. “I think communication is the key to a healthy relationship.”
