Council receives update on Go Southgate app as staff, hauler outline steps to address illegal dumping and bulky pickups

City officials presented an update on the Go Southgate smartphone app and how the city and its hauler are using the tool to track service requests and clear illegal dumping.

The update came at the City of Southgate City Council meeting on Feb. 11, when City Manager Rob Houston introduced the item and Deputy Director of Public Works Eric described the app's functions and recent performance. Eric said the app "went live in April of last year," and staff have used it to centralize requests that previously came in by phone and email.

Why it matters: City staff and the trash hauler said more residents are reporting bulky items and illegal dumps through the app, which helps schedule pickups and direct field crews. Residents said the app already speeds some repairs but asked for clearer feedback when requests are referred to other departments and for help making the system work for apartment residents.

The app and service details Eric told council the Go Southgate app supports non-emergency service requests (not 911) on Android and Apple devices, and provides real-time tracking and notifications to requestors. He said staff have closed requests with photos so users can see work completed and tested an integration between the app and the city's work-order system so records sync.

Eric reported the app has about 500 downloads and more than 1,000 service requests since launch. He said average field turnaround varies by problem type: graffiti and potholes are often addressed within a day or two; sidewalk temporary repairs typically take two to four days; and bulky-item pickups and illegal dumping may take one to seven days depending on the hauler's service day and equipment availability.

Universal Waste Services'role Matt Blackburn of Universal Waste Services (UWS), the city's trash contractor, said the company runs five daily citywide sweep routes and targets known hot spots three times a week. Blackburn told the council that UWS received about 500 bulky-item calls in 2023 and just over 1,000 in 2024, and that the company collected 34,652 bulky items from city residences in 2024 (this figure excludes automatic daily street sweeps and illegal-dumping removals). He said UWS will help the city increase outreach through monthly billing inserts and recommended targeted surveillance at repeat-dumping locations.

Resident feedback and staff follow-up Several residents praised the app's responsiveness; others described unanswered reports and confusion about how anonymous reports are handled. Council members pressed staff on two recurring points: whether anonymous reports receive acknowledgement and how apartment residents without an account or utility account ID can request bulky-item pickups. Eric said the system sends acknowledgement messages and that staff will check whether the app requires an email address for replies and will ask customer service to accept apartment-unit requests when customers cannot provide an account ID.

Actions and next steps The council voted to receive and file the presentation. Staff and UWS described operational next steps: expand outreach to increase downloads, add billing-mail advertising of the app, refine the workflow for referrals to engineering or other city divisions, consider targeted surveillance at repeat dumping sites, and improve the app's linkage to UWS so crews can upload completion photos faster.

Council member comments and public reaction Speakers at the meeting commended rapid removals in some cases and urged improved follow-up on items that are referred to engineering or other departments. Several residents asked for clearer guidance on how to report from apartments and how to ensure completion updates reach anonymous reporters.

The council took no additional formal policy action beyond receiving the presentation.