The Challenge
Hamilton County, Iowa faced significant inefficiencies in their public services due to the lack of a comprehensive parcel management solution. Brenda Loftus, the County Assessor, had previously used Schneider Geospatial's solutions and was familiar with their Beacon product, which provided significant improvements in her former county. Recognizing the need for a robust and versatile system, Brenda aimed to implement similar solutions in Hamilton County to enhance service delivery and transparency.
"We had all these layers of data out there with the previous platform. I had to update parcels and send them a copy of a shape file and have them updated on their end. It's really nice to have Beacon here… every night it just updates. So all I have to do is update my data and the next morning it's there on Beacon. There's nothing for me to do really. So it's really a slick tool.” - Jeremy Buttrick
The Solution
To address these challenges, Hamilton County adopted many of Schneider Geospatial’s parcel management solutions. These tools offered seamless multi-departmental integration, allowing for efficient management of property and tax information. Jeremy Buttrick, GIS Coordinator, played a key role in helping meet the county's unique needs. The Beacon product enables data from various departments—such as tax, CAMA, and GIS—to be accessed in one centralized location, effectively creating an "online courthouse."
"Beacon created a platform that we could continue to use, with 24 access, without having to have additional licensing."- Brenda Loftus
The Impact
The implementation of Schneider Geospatial’s parcel management solutions transformed how Hamilton County operates. With the new system, they experienced:
- Increased Efficiency: The platform allowed for easy access to information, significantly reducing the need for in-person visits or phone inquiries. For instance, the introduction of online forms and digital submissions streamlined processes such as homestead exemption applications.
- Transparency and Trust: Citizens could now easily access property data, tax information, and historical records, fostering greater trust in county governance.
- Multi-departmental Integration: Various departments, including the Treasurer's Office, Engineers, and Conservation, found new ways to utilize the platform, significantly enhancing internal productivity and public service delivery.
- User-Friendly Interface: Features such as the ability to export data, perform customized searches, and view oblique aerial images provided users with rich, actionable information.
"A lot of people just didn't know this kind of information was available from the county. They didn't even realize we housed this kind of information… It's literally just a click and you just direct them to where they are."- Brenda Loftus
Conclusion
Hamilton County’s transition to Schneider Geospatial's parcel management solutions underscores the platform's versatile capabilities and significant impact on local governance. By addressing inefficiencies and enhancing service delivery, Hamilton County set a new standard in adopting GovTech solutions. Their successful implementation serves as a testament to Schneider Geospatial’s ability to meet growing public sector needs for more responsive and comprehensive tools.
"Information is power, and the more control that an individual feels that they have on their own information— their property information, their tax information— it makes them feel more comfortable about what's going on, that they can see. The transparency is there."- Brenda Loftus
Hamilton County's experience highlights the value of investing in robust GovTech solutions to improve transparency, efficiency, and public trust.
Share