FRENCH LICK – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) announced Columbus has been awarded an Aim Community Program Innovation Award for their Columbus Collects initiative. The city was honored with this award on Thursday, November 3 during the Annual Awards Luncheon – presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC, during the 2022 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick. Columbus won in the greater than greater than 50,000 population category.
In 2021, the Columbus Department of Public Works launched its mobile app “Columbus Collects” to make it easier for residents to stay connected about waste and recycling curbside collection programs. The app includes information on the trash, recycling, yard waste, and brush collection schedule specific to the user’s home address and can remind residents of their collection day. Users are able to search over 10,000 items via “Waste Wizard” to find out if a material can be reused, recycled, composted, or disposed. Residents can also use the app to submit queries to the City and suggest new items to add to the “Waste Wizard.”
If a Columbus resident does not have an Apple or Android smartphone, they can visit the Department of Public Works website and search their home address in the “My Schedule” tool. This allows all users to sign up for waste collection reminders by email, phone call, or text message, and download their collection schedule into their digital calendar. Monthly reports generated by the app allow departments heads to identify trends and seasonal needs.
“I really enjoy seeing the public sector embrace technology to provide essential services and identify more efficient operating methods. Columbus Collects is such an innovative tool for both homeowners and businesses. I’m excited for our membership to learn about this undertaking and see how they can adapt it to fit their own needs, ” said Aim CEO Matt Greller.
In its 46th year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A seven-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2022 Aim Ideas Summit
November 2-4, 2022
French Lick Resort
Attendance: 1,000 (pending final registration count)