Facts. Not Fiction: Straight from the Source “You can report something…but nothing ever gets fixed.”
It’s a common frustration - and one we hear often.You report a pothole, a damaged sign, or a by-law concern… and it can feel like nothing happens.
Here’s what’s actually going on.
When a service request is submitted to the Town, it’s logged and reviewed by the appropriate department. From there, it’s assigned based on the type of issue and its priority.
Not all requests are addressed at the same speed.
Some issues - like safety concerns or those affecting high-traffic areas - are prioritized and addressed more quickly. Others may take longer depending on the scope of work, scheduling, weather, or whether additional assessment is required.
In some cases, what looks like “no action” may mean:
- The issue has been scheduled but not yet completed
- It falls under another level of government or agency
- It requires coordination with planned work or available resources
A good example of this is graffiti reporting. Let's break this down:
- 2024: 274 total locations (58 were on Town infrastructure)
- 2025: 341 total locations (82 were on Town infrastructure)
While the Town responds to graffiti reports where possible, some situations prevent immediate removal, including restricted-access locations (such as railway crossings or bridges), private property, and assets not owned or maintained by the Town, like Canada Post community mailboxes, utility boxes, and infrastructure owned by the Region of Durham or the MTO. In these cases, the Town works with Right of Way Services and By-law to engage the appropriate agencies to address the issue.
The Town also tracks service requests internally to ensure they are followed up and completed. If you’ve submitted a request and aren’t sure of its status, you can follow up directly with the appropriate department for an update.
Knowing how the system actually works beats the comments section. Every. Time.
Share facts. Not fiction.
Straight from the source.
Looking to report an issue? whitby.ca/reportanissue
For more Town updates: whitby.ca/News
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