These days it seems like 'big brother' is everywhere, watching your every move and now the city of Sioux Falls plans to use GPS technology to keep closer tabs on some of its workers.
The city plans to install GPS tracking devices on some of its vehicles in public works. One of the things the city says the GPS systems will do is allow it to monitor workers to make sure they're not wasting time on service calls.
"We've heard that and we know that exists on the public and private sectors and we've impressed upon our mangers to manage your teams well and get the work order done," public works director Mark Cotter said.
And one supervisor we talked with welcomes the GPS tracking devices.
"Accountability isn't an issue for me because we know where the people are at. We have a certain number of orders to get in because of appointments being made, so the GPS will benefit the city," water service supervisor Bruce Anderson said.
The city is only going to install two of the GPS systems at first as a test. They'll monitor fuel consumption. Plus using a map, they'll be able to tell when the vehicle is sitting idle and for how long.
But the city says the real benefit to customers will be response times to emergencies by dispatching the closet service vehicle in the area.
"The city of Sioux Falls is nearly 75 square miles and with nearly 50,000 water customers, the more efficient we can be when we get a work order and get it out to our team and get it closed out, the better we'll be and allow us to do that," Cotter said.
The initial cost for the software and the devices will be a little over $80,000.
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