Maumee plans SeeClickFix launch and to bring parks mowing in-house; three operators to be posted

Maumee staff told the Employee and Community Relations Committee the city will roll out SeeClickFix (through CivicPlus) as a resident-facing reporting tool and is preparing to bring more parks and mowing work in-house while posting three operator positions.

Speaker 6 explained SeeClickFix as a web-and-app reporting workflow that allows residents to upload photos and location details; city staff will route reports based on issue type and set timelines for closure after staff training and testing. "They can snap a picture of it. They can upload it into the see click fix system, and then, we'll know where they are where they fill out some information," Speaker 6 said. The committee discussed whether reports should allow anonymous submission; Speaker 6 said anonymity is a configurable setting but warned anonymous reports can raise issues and the committee will weigh options.

On operations, Speaker 7 described plans to bring parks maintenance back in-house where feasible and confirmed the city will post three operator openings (two for sewer, one for service). He noted some corridors — notably the Anthony Wayne Trail right-of-way — present obstacles (trees, narrow clearances) that the city's current mowers are not efficient at navigating, and that some contractor use may continue for those areas. Speaker 7 said the city will evaluate cost versus staffing and consider seasonal or college labor as a lower-cost supplement.

The committee identified possible low-maintenance landscaping (native plantings or prairie strips) as a long-term option to reduce mowing in constrained areas; members noted upfront costs and suggested a 2027 budget horizon for major planting projects.

Next steps: staff will finish workflow design and training for SeeClickFix, prepare an internal timeline for launch and testing, post operator job openings and prepare proposals for in-house park maintenance vs. contractor costs.