Bonifay will soon have mobile app

The City of Bonifay will soon offer residents a mobile app to assist citizens.

Bonifay City Council approved a contract modification with Tyler Technologies when they met in regular session on July 10.

The existing contract includes budgeting and bookkeeping software and other software programs used to run the city. Officials say the addition of a new service will allow the city to have an app which will work much like their website but will be more streamlined. Users will be able to send in reports on broken pipes, a downed tree, anything that requires the city’s attention. The reports will then go directly to the applicable department.

The cost per year to add the app feature will cost $4,000. Councilman Larry Cook asked for a six-month trial period to determine how many citizens take advantage of and utilize the program. The council agreed in a unanimous vote.

The application of two grants to purchase equipment for the police department were approved after being presented by Councilwoman Shelley Carroll and Bonifay Police Chief Jimmy Macon. The first grant from Spirit of the Blue, if awarded, would cover the cost of 12 body cameras with software, 12 tasers with software, one case of 50 taser cartridges, 12 dash cameras with software and 12 sidearms. There will be no cost to the city should the grant be awarded.

The second grant is from the Department of Justice and will be a 50/50 grant. If awarded, the City will be responsible for $4,000 of the $8,000 total to cover the cost of 10 new bulletproof vests. Macon says the vests are needed for the safety of the officers. “All of the current vests we have are expired,†said Macon. “New vests are vital to the safety of our officers and the community as a whole.â€

In other items, Johnny Whitaker came before the council to request changing the old softball fields at Veterans Park into an equestrian space. Whitaker says the idea behind it is to have a place where kids who compete in high school rodeos will have a home base for competitions. Mayor Emily McCann says, “I am all for an equestrian space. I am looking forward to seeing what Mr. Whitaker brings back to us as a way to make this come to fruition.â€

Bonifay City Council will meet again in regular session at 6 p.m. on July 24.