Helping a city document a public nuisance with a rapid-turnaround reporting portal
Services Provided
Web Development
Project Technologies
WordPress
Industry Served
Government, Public Service
Team Composition
1 Developer
Project Duration
< 1 week
TLDR
The City of Murfreesboro needed to document ongoing odor complaints from residents near the Middle Point landfill after sensors confirmed hydrogen sulfide emissions and landfill operators failed to resolve the issue as promised. Twin Sun built a WordPress-based odor reporting portal in just a few days, giving residents a simple way to submit reports and city administrators an easy way to export and analyze the data. Within months, approximately 2,000 reports documented the ongoing nuisance, providing evidence that contributed to News Channel 5 Investigates coverage and helped the city pursue the matter further.
The Challenge
The Murfreesboro City Council had received complaints from residents about unpleasant odors believed to originate from the Middle Point landfill. Starting in fall 2020, Murfreesboro Water Management established an air monitoring plan that confirmed the problem: hydrogen sulfide sensors near the landfill registered high levels, particularly when wind blew across and off the site. The monitors were positioned away from other sewer infrastructure, making the source clear.
Landfill operators assured the city that odors would cease by the end of July 2021. They did not. The city believed, based on ad hoc reports, that the problem persisted. What they needed was a systematic way to document the scope and ongoing impact of the nuisance on residents.
Our Solution
The city engaged Twin Sun to build an odor reporting portal. The goal was straightforward: create a simple, accessible way for Murfreesboro residents to report odors they believed originated from the landfill or other city infrastructure, and give city administrators an easy way to export and analyze those reports.
We built the site in WordPress within a few days. The solution included a straightforward survey form and a backing database that allowed city staff to review submissions individually or export them in bulk for analysis. No custom application framework, no complex architecture. Just the right tool for the job, delivered quickly and economically.
The Results
The portal launched on September 20, 2021. Within months, approximately 2,000 reports were submitted by Murfreesboro residents, providing documented evidence that the odor problem continued well past when landfill operators claimed it would end.
This data helped Murfreesboro demonstrate the breadth and persistence of the issue. The situation received coverage on News Channel 5 Investigates, a local segment that examines regional issues. The city now had the evidence it needed to pursue the matter further.
