LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The city of Little Rock’s 311 service lets residents, businesses and visitors make requests and report issues they see around town.
But recently, some have taken issue with the service itself. 11 Listens went to get answers about claims that requests aren’t being fulfilled.
311 is a convenient way to report non-emergency issues like potholes, trash pickups, and sidewalk repairs online by phone or mobile app. But lately, complaints about the three-digit number have surfaced.
On Facebook, someone reported about a delay, writing she was advised someone would contact her within 72 hours, instead it took two weeks. Another person said, "I have reported several things and nothing was completed." And one other person wrote, "I report things on 311 almost daily in the central high neighborhood. I received an error saying bad request 500."
We went to City Hall with their concerns. "We think it would be the result of not having the most up to date software on their mobile device,” said Lamor Williams, city communications director. He said the IT Department looked into the error message and determined there was no technical issue with the system. As for the delay in response time, he said each year, some 150 thousand requests are made to 311 and each one is directed to different departments, which may explain why some requests take longer than others. "And dependent upon what type of issued you've entered it could be that it takes some time for our staff to identify the problem," said Williams.
There's also concern about abandoned homes. Some others took to Facebook and said housing code violations are never addressed.
“We can't just go and take action and tear down property or enter people’s property without proper notification because statutes limit such activity," said Williams. He added while it takes time to address every issue, the city ensures it is working to respond to each one.
Meanwhile, people are urged to check the status of their request online and through the app or simply call 311 for help. The city has hired a new 311 manager, who is expected to start by Friday.
If you have questions or concerns about something, send us an email at 11listens@thv11.com.