MARTINS FERRY, Ohio — Martins Ferry officials are preparing to launch a new cloud-based management system designed to modernize city operations, improve code enforcement and make it easier for residents to report neighborhood concerns.
City leaders expect to begin using GovPilot by Sept. 1. The software is used by local governments to streamline daily operations and improve communication across municipal departments.
One of the system’s primary goals in Martins Ferry is to address vacant and neglected properties that have become difficult to manage under the city’s current paper-based process.
Public Safety Director Melissa Yeso said the city has approximately 400 properties with delinquent taxes that have gone unpaid for more than five years. Many of those properties are owned by individuals who no longer live in Martins Ferry or even within the surrounding area, making code enforcement more challenging.
Officials say GovPilot will allow city staff to electronically document code violations, monitor the history of individual properties and better track enforcement efforts over time.
The system will be used to manage issues ranging from overgrown grass and nuisance complaints to condemned buildings and other code violations.
Martins Ferry Police Chief Vincent West said the department also plans to integrate GovPilot into its patrol vehicles as officers receive upgraded computers and tablets.
The new equipment will allow officers to photograph violations in the field and upload images directly into the system, creating digital records that can be tied to specific properties and citations.
In addition to improving internal operations, GovPilot will include a public-facing portal where residents can report concerns directly to the city.
Officials say giving citizens the ability to submit complaints electronically will help identify neighborhood issues more quickly while encouraging greater community involvement in keeping Martins Ferry clean and safe.
City leaders expect the new technology to improve efficiency, strengthen code enforcement and provide a more organized approach to addressing long-standing property issues throughout the community.
