What you've described is a use-case that I really, really would like Quick Base to support: use an automation to both add a record (a log note in your case) and open it for editing. Your case, luckily, might be implemented in another way. I haven't tested it, but think it would work.
1. On the pole form, add a new field called "Reason" or something similar. In the form, display the field only in edit mode, and, in addition, use a form rule to show and require the field only when the work-request number is changed.
2. In the automation that creates the log record, copy the "reason" field into the new log record. I'm not sure from your description whether a "log note" is part of the pole form (maybe a text field that logs all entries) or a separate record (a child or the pole parent). Either way, an automation should handle it, either with an additional field-copy (for a text field that logs entries) or with an additional action (for a child record).
