LAWTON, Okla. — The City of Lawton has officially transitioned to a new software platform for processing public records requests under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, moving from its previous system to help streamline municipal workflows and enhance public access to government records.
Effective early August 2026, the City launched NextRequest, a public records management platform developed by CivicPlus, replacing its legacy system, GovQA (by Granicus).
City officials confirmed that the new platform went live following routine testing and onboarding designed to modernize how records are submitted, tracked, and delivered to community members, news organizations, and local businesses.
Focusing on Efficiency and Constructive Service
According to City Clerk Donalynn Blazek-Scherler, the software update is part of an ongoing effort by municipal staff to ensure the public records process remains efficient, accessible, and responsive.
“Our goal with the transition is to continue improving the open records process for both City staff and the public,” Blazek-Scherler stated in a written response regarding the rollout. “We hope the new platform will help streamline our internal workflow, improve communication throughout the request process, and make the overall experience as efficient and user-friendly as possible.”
NextRequest is widely utilized by municipalities and public agencies across Oklahoma—including the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office—offering features such as centralized document hosting, automated status updates, and public repositories for previously fulfilled requests.
Early Operations and Collaborative Rollout
While the City has been using NextRequest in day-to-day operations for roughly a week, initial feedback from city administrators has been positive. Officials noted that staff are actively adjusting to the system’s new tools and backend features as daily requests come in.
“As with any new system, we expect there will be a learning period as staff become more familiar with the platform and we determine how best to use its features,” Blazek-Scherler noted. “So far, we have been pleased with the testing and implementation process, and I expect I will be in a much better position to speak about the system’s performance and impact once we have had more time to use it in our day-to-day operations.”
City leadership emphasized that technology upgrades serve to support the core mission of transparent local governance.
“Ultimately, the technology is a tool to support the larger goal, which is providing timely access to public records and maintaining transparency in City government,” Blazek-Scherler said.
Documenting the Infrastructure and Procurement Details
To track the operational capabilities, fee structures, and technical architecture of the new setup as part of routine newsroom documentation, the Lawton Town Crier submitted a standard informational request—Request 26-161—seeking records showing the platform’s Master Services Agreement, software licensing schedules, staff user guides, and system workflow specifications.
As part of our open-source research initiative, the Lawton Town Crier has also created an open-access reference guide, the NextRequest Open Records Platform Data Dictionary, on our public documentation wiki. The data dictionary outlines standard database fields, status tracking codes, visibility tags, and request lifecycles used within the platform. We will continue to update our wiki as more information becomes available.
Key Takeaways for Local Requestors
Residents and local organizations using the new public portal can expect:
- Updated Web Interface: Open records requests are now processed through the new NextRequest portal accessible directly via the City of Lawton’s official website.
- Direct Communication: The platform allows requestors to receive status notifications, communicate directly with assigned department staff, and download completed documents within the portal.
- Ongoing Implementation: As staff complete system training, administrative workflows will continue to optimize over the coming weeks.