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Carlin to purchase GovWell software to modernize permitting, licensing and code enforcement
Summary
The council approved purchase of GovWell to replace MyGov and a Caselle business-license module, citing improved GIS mapping, collaborative plan review and daily-updated parcel histories; annual subscription negotiated to $16,000 with a vendor payment plan to split fees across fiscal years.
The Carlin City Council approved the purchase of GovWell software for permitting, building inspections, business licensing and code enforcement on Feb. 25.
City Clerk Melinda Harris said the current business-license module in Caselle and the MyGov platform are cumbersome for staff and residents. She said Carlin plans to use three GovWell modules — business licenses, building inspections and code enforcement — and that the vendor offered customer support and a daily-updated GIS map. Building Official Anna Penola said GovWell allows multiple reviewers and improves collaboration compared with the current MyGov ticketing and email workflow. Code Enforcer Lila Sexton said the system lets residents select specific complaint types (tall grass, junk vehicles, trash) and streamlines internal tracking and inter-staff communications.
Harris said the vendor lowered the annual subscription from $20,000 to $16,000 by removing contractor licensing (which Penola noted is managed through the state contractors board). She said the city currently pays about $7,500 for MyGov plus about $1,500 for Caselle business-license functions, so the net increase would be about $7,000 per year. The vendor offered a payment plan that would require a $5,000 payment in the current fiscal year and the remainder next year; Harris said the vendor required a signature by Feb. 27 to meet the vendor’s deployment timeline.
Councilperson Lyndsie Whigham moved to approve the purchase and take the payment plan option; Councilperson Joel Nalley seconded and the council voted unanimously. Sexton noted anonymous complaint reporting would be difficult if staff need an email to respond, and staff said Text MyGov alerts for waterline breaks would remain separate from GovWell.
