ABILENE, Texas — The City of Abilene is notified of more issues than before with help from the SeeClickFix app — launched in February 2019, costing the city $17,000 to operate yearly.
People can report anything on the app, like graffiti, tall grass and even excessive dog doo at a City of Abilene park.
KTXS dug through the data and looked at pothole repair requests made during the app’s first year — February 2019 through January 2020.
The craters found along Abilene roads are more than just an inconvenience for drivers.
“They’re horrible,” said driver Melanie Castro, who relies on her car to help her work. “It sounds kind of, like janky. It sounds bad. It’s like, I hope nobody else can hear it.”
Castro told KTXS she’s made multiple visits to a body shop, with potholes causing about $3,000 worth of damage to her car.
“It’s been a nightmare for sure,” she said.
The City of Abilene told KTXS they have crews working Monday through Friday fixing those problem spots.
Besides complaining over the phone or in person at City Hall, the SeeClickFix app is one way the City finds out where potholes are located.
“It gives us an additional set of eyes, ears and voice from the public,” said Greg McCaffery, the City of Abilene’s Director of Public Works.
It’s a tool Castro said she’s used often.
“I drive all the time so I know if it’s inconvenient for me, it’s inconvenient for everybody else,” explained Castro.
Data obtained by KTXS shows 1,101 street related reports were made though the SeeClickFix app in its first year.
