City of Springfield to Launch “Community Connection” as Part of Mayor Buscher’s Communication Initia

As part of Mayor Misty Buscher’s ongoing effort to improve transparency, accessibility, and public trust in local government, the City of Springfield will officially launch Community Connection on June 30. This new tool represents the second prong of the Mayor’s three-part communication initiative, aimed at strengthening relationships between residents and their local government.
 
Community Connection will be available through the new City Navigator, an online portal that centralizes access to City services and communication tools. Residents can visit www.springfield.il.us/Navigate.aspx starting June 30 to access the platform.
 
Community Connection is a centralized online platform that allows residents to submit questions, compliments, and concerns directly to the City. Each submission will be reviewed by a dedicated Community Connection Coordinator, who will ensure the message is directed to the appropriate department and responded to within 24 to 48 business hours. The system is designed to streamline communication and ensure that residents receive timely, respectful, and helpful responses.
 
It’s important to note that Community Connection is not to be confused with the City’s existing “Report a Problem” tool, which is located at www.springfield.il.us/IWantTo_Report.aspx. Report a Problem is designed specifically for submitting service-related issues such as potholes, missed trash pickup, streetlight outages, and other infrastructure-related concerns. Those issues will continue to be routed directly to operational departments for resolution through that system.
 
By contrast, Community Connection is for broader communication needs — allowing residents to ask questions about city services, share ideas or compliments, and express non-urgent concerns that warrant a response from City Hall.
 
“Community Connection is about removing barriers and creating a clear, consistent way for our residents to be heard,” said Mayor Buscher.
 
This launch follows the first prong of the communication initiative, which focused on improving the clarity and transparency of departmental communications through public open houses.
 
The third and final prong of Mayor Buscher’s communication strategy will debut later this year and will focus on expanding direct communication options with the Mayor herself.
 
Together, these initiatives represent a renewed focus on open, responsive, and community-focused government.