The city of Buda is rolling out a new app as a way to increase the flow of communication from its citizens to City Hall. Buda Connect launched Jan. 25 on iOS and Android devices, according to a city news release. The app includes features such as a function allowing submission of requests for municipal services. For example, if a city street has a pothole or a residence is experiencing water pressure issues, app users can submit a request for the city to fix it. Using a smartphone's geolocation technology the app automatically places the request to the user’s address. Or app users can manually enter the location of the issue. Mayor Todd Ruge said the app allows for a transparent method of communication with Buda citizens. “It’s going to give citizens more of a voice on things,” Ruge said. “This gives them a very easy access point to us.” The communication goes both ways. The app is another vehicle through which city staff can disseminate information to residents, the news release states. App users are asked to sign up for an account either through Facebook or using a personal email address, although the app is free. A user can make his or her submitted request viewable to the public or kept private. Other app users can view public requests by using the app’s “view nearby requests” feature. For more information on the Buda Connect app visit www.ci.buda.tx.us/budaconnect. The Android app can be downloaded here, and the iOS app can be downloaded here.