DPW proposes iWORKS asset‑management software to replace paper and spreadsheets

Lieutenant Anthony Carr, superintendent of public works and building engineer, presented an iWORKS request to move the village from paper and Excel spreadsheets to a cloud‑based asset and work‑order system that would track everything from stop signs to sanitary‑sewer cleaning. Carr said the software would allow staff to “store and send any work order request to the staff” and to attach GIS locations and histories to assets.

Carr told the board the building department already uses iWORKS, which removes a separate startup fee and reduces initial cost. He outlined options for populating the database — either DPW staff doing the work, paying the vendor to import assets, or a hybrid — and warned that maintaining a detailed inventory requires dedicated staff time. “We could keep it simple just because we have limited staff,” he said, arguing for a phased rollout and emphasizing the system’s value for FEMA reporting and routine maintenance tracking.

Board members asked whether the $8,000 GIS item was a subscription or upfront cost; Carr said it was an initial cost that included training. He and the mayor discussed giving crews tablets or letting staff use a mobile app in the field so crews could close jobs in real time. Carr recommended starting at a higher, simpler level of detail and expanding once staff capacity and training were in place.

The request was presented as a budget addition for DPW’s operations; Carr suggested the board consider funding the annual license and staff time needed for an initial asset inventory.