City of Prior Lake, MN
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City Invests in New Technology to Enance Services
The City of Prior Lake is rolling out two technology platforms in 2026 to provide residents with convenient tools to engage directly with services related to fire and utility billing. City Manager Jason Wedel said, “Any time we can provide a product that enhances city services in a cost-effective and convenient way, we explore it. These new tools should enhance customer experience while also improving efficiency for city staff.”
Community Connect – Coming June 2026
In early summer, the Prior Lake Fire Department (PLFD) will launch Community Connect, a free, voluntary software program that allows residents in the PLFD service area to share critical information about their home with first responders. Information that can be reported includes the number of occupants, individuals with special needs or mobility issues, pets, and special hazards, to name a few.
When responding to a call, Prior Lake firefighters can enter the address and see the information in Community Connect. This enables first responders to plan and prepare for any conditions that could impact the safety and welfare of occupants above standard operating procedures. This data also ensures firefighter safety by alerting them to hazards or conditions that would otherwise be unknown.
Community Connect is a function within PLFD’s current records management system which tracks and manages PLFD’s day-to-day activities. This is a voluntary program, and users may elect to share as much or as little information as desired. To participate, users will need to create an account, and may enter, edit, or remove information at any time. When the program is ready to go live, a link to Community Connect will be available on the city’s website.
Assistant Fire Chief Jim Ruzicka led the implementation of Community Connect. He said, “Ensuring this information is accessible during emergencies is extremely valuable. It will enhance responders' ability to act quickly and effectively when every second matters."
Prior Lake Utility Hub – Coming late 2026
A new Prior Lake Utility Hub is in the works and slated to debut in late 2026. The Utility Hub is designed to give customers direct access to their water usage data and billing information. Through this self-service online portal, users may sign up for paperless statements, view invoices, pay utility bills, track water usage, and set up consumption alerts.
Some of these features already exist on the City’s current website, but a new module that will allow users to monitor and manage their water consumption online will be activated by the end of the year. This module includes:
• Real time consumption data, peak daily consumption, and trends in user-friendly charts and graphs;
• Proactive leak detection and unplanned high-water usage information; and
• Alerts that will send notifications about unusual spikes in water usage.
The goal of the Utility Hub is to provide utility billing customers with one location for information about their account and to reduce billing surprises due to undetected leaks. The Utility Hub should also reduce the number of phone calls fielded by staff about their bills. Finance Director Nicole Klekner said, “The Utility Hub will give residents more control over their water usage and will help residents detect potential leaks quickly.” She added, “We always look for ways to better support our customers, especially if it involves potentially saving them money."