Information about the city of Vicksburg and the ability of residents to report road and other problems to city officials is now available through a smartphone.

City officials May 20 launched the city’s app, which is available for iPhones and Androids by going to the city’s website at www.vicksburg.org, or through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and searching for “City of Vicksburg.”

“This app allows us to share information with the public about news, emergency notices, alerts, anything that may be pertinent to the public and it’s a convenience to touch a button on your cellphone and be able to see that information,” South Ward Alderman Willis Thompson said at Friday’s meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

City information technology director Billy Gordon said the app had been ready for several months, “But we decided to wait on announcing it because we still had some fine tuning to do to make sure that it was operating properly. We didn’t want to introduce it and then shut it back down because we had a problem.”

He said the app provides the same information as the city’s website, such as a list of city departments with contact information; upcoming events, including meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen; online bill-paying; boil water alerts; street closings; and city applications and audit reports.

It also provides information on points of interest around the city, including the city’s museums, restaurants and other attractions, making it useful for tourists visiting the area.

Besides information, Thompson said the app would allow people to send their concerns by text or email to city officials, and report problems such as potholes and illegal dumping.

“One of the features allows people to take photos of problems. You take a picture with your smartphone, and in a matter of seconds, you’ve reported that problem to City Hall,” he said. “I think it will be a useful tool in the city of Vicksburg.

“I would encourage the people to give it a try. It can be a convenience to you, keeping you in contact with what’s happening in the city; keeping you informed.

“Technology allows us to get things done faster, more efficiently, and at a lower cost to the taxpayer,” he said. “Information such as news releases, alerts, and reporting features can now be shared and accessed by citizens with the touch of a button in a matter of seconds. This should help us achieve a higher level of efficiency in keeping citizens informed.”