June 7, 2021 – Flagler County is on a winning streak, and was recently notified it is the recipient of a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) for its outstanding work using Geographic Information Systems technology.

“Your organization stood out from more than 100,000 others,” said Esri President Jack Dangermond, whose company is issuing the award. “I congratulate you and your colleagues on a job well done.”

Dangermond solicited nominations of outstanding users from vertical industry managers, US regional offices, and international distributors, according to the company website. Nominations were and Flagler County was one of 180 chosen from more than 100,000 Esri clients worldwide.

Flagler County GIS Manager Darlene Pardiny thought it likely the award was the result of the UGov Flagler App featuring the Flagler Virtual Reporter that launched mid-February, but it was the result of many accomplishments in 2020 included in the nomination put forth by account representative Robyn Garrett.

“Not all of them were created by the GIS Division staff. Some were created by our power users, like Candi Breckenridge and Nikki North,” Pardiny said. “Several would not have been successful if it weren’t for project managers like Amy Lukasik, Joyce Bishop, and Kris Peterson. Of course, none of it would have been possible without our very talented and dedicated GIS staff, Matt Adams and Skyler Dixon.”

Here are links to some of the GIS Division’s attention-getting projects: Bikes, Burgers & Brews Storymap; Homeless Activity Reporter; Commonly Requested GIS Applications and Data; Airspace Link; and the UGov Flagler App featuring the Flagler Virtual Reporter.

“Matt Adams has been able to work within the parameters of our existing GIS licensing with ESRI so this application is only costing the county $2,000 per year and that is to make this a public facing downloadable app thru a local vendor, Live Tour Network,” Pardiny said of the latter. “Using the talents of our own Lili Tuggle-Weir we’ve been able to create a customized, attractive application that will allow not only residents to submit issues directly to our departments, but also for internal work flow as well.”

The UGov Flagler App featuring the Flagler Virtual Reporter was also recently recognized with a National Association of Counties (NACo) 2021 Achievement Award.

The application, which launched on February 14, 2021 as a Valentine’s Day gift to the public, is available as a free download for both iPhone and Android platforms after nearly two years of development by the county’s GIS Division. Despite its newness, nearly 900 work orders were issued in the first several weeks through a robust feature of the application – The Flagler Virtual Reporter – with 91% of those problems resolved and residents notified that their concerns were addressed.

Besides the Flagler Virtual Reporter, features of the UGOV Flagler app include: event notifications; a community calendar; an FAQ; access to the county’s website and social media; the ability to email photographs; a community gallery; about us; and, contact us.

“We are thrilled by all of this recognition for our work, which we take very seriously,” Pardiny said. “The SAG award is really the pinnacle for us as GIS professionals. It highlights extraordinary achievements and efforts to improve our world.”